Evolution of the Insect PPK Gene Family.

ABSTRACT: Insect pickpocket (PPK) receptors mediate diverse functions, among them the detection of mechano- and chemo-sensory stimuli. Notwithstanding their relevance, studies on their evolution only focused on Drosophila. We have analyzed the genomes of 26 species of eight orders including holometabolous and hemimetabolous insects (Blattodea, Orthoptera, Hemiptera, Phthiraptera, Hymenoptera, Lepidoptera, Coleoptera, and Diptera), to characterize the evolution of this gene family. PPKs were detected in all genomes analyzed, with 578 genes distributed in seven subfamilies. According to our phylogeny, ppk17 is the most divergent member, composing the new subfamily VII. PPKs evolved under a gene birth-and-death model that generated lineage-specific expansions usually located in clusters, while purifyin

SUBMITTER: Latorre-Estivalis JM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8438182 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature