Horizontally acquired cysteine synthase genes undergo functional divergence in lepidopteran herbivores.

ABSTRACT: Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) plays an important role in evolutionary processes as organisms adapt to their environments, and now cases of gene duplication after HGT in eukaryotes are emerging at an increasing rate. However, the fate and roles of the duplicated genes over time in eukaryotes remain unclear. Here we conducted a comprehensive analysis of the evolution of cysteine synthase (CYS) in lepidopteran insects. Our results indicate that HGT-derived CYS genes are widespread and have undergone duplication following horizontal transfer in many lepidopteran insects. Moreover, lepidopteran CYS proteins not only have β-cyanoalanine synthase activity but also possess cysteine synthase activity that is involved in sulfur amino acid biosynthesis. Duplicated CYS genes show marked divergence in

SUBMITTER: Li Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8249628 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature