Project description:We sequenced at mRNA level in adult hearts of zebrafish, pamprey and sea squirt. Combined with other 11 vertebrate heart RNA-Seq data online, we conducted comprehensive evolutionary genomic analyses to address the contribution of gene/genome duplications on heart structure evolution. We observed that number of duplicate genes expressed in heart increased gradually with the increase of heart chamber number along the vertebrate phylogeny, despite that most of them were duplicated at the time near to the origin of vertebrates or more ancient. Our research provides a clear-cut example to show the relationship among gene duplication, continuous character evolution like heart structure evolution and nature selection.
2018-09-28 | GSE73522 | GEO
Project description:Phylogenomic reconstruction reveals new insights into the evolution and biogeography of Atta leaf-cutting ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)
Project description:Molecular phylogenomics investigates evolutionary relationships based on genomic data. However, despite genomic sequence conservation, changes in protein interactions can occur relatively rapidly and may cause strong functional diversification. To investigate such functional evolution, we here combine phylogenomics with interaction proteomics. We develop this concept by investigating the molecular evolution of the shelterin complex, which protects telomeres, across 16 vertebrate species from zebrafish to humans covering 450 million years of evolution. Our phylointeractomics screen discovers previously unknown telomere-associated proteins and reveals how homologous proteins undergo functional evolution. For instance, we show that TERF1 evolved as a telomere-binding protein in the common stem lineage of marsupial and placental mammals. Phylointeractomics is a versatile and scalable approach to investigate evolutionary changes in protein function and thus can provide experimental evidence for phylogenomic relationships.
Project description:The evolution of gene body methylation (gbM) and the underlying mechanism is poorly understood. By pairing the largest collection of CHROMOMETHYLTRANSFERASE (CMT) sequences (773) and methylomes (72) across land plants and green algae we provide novel insights into the evolution of gbM and its underlying mechanism. The angiosperm- and eudicot-specific whole genome duplication events gave rise to what are now referred to as CMT1, 2 and 3 lineages. CMTε, which includes the eudicot-specific CMT1 and 3, and orthologous angiosperm clades, is essential for the perpetuation of gbM in angiosperms, implying that gbM evolved at least 236 MYA. Independent losses of CMT1, 2 and 3 in eudicots, and CMT2 and CMTmonocot+magnoliid in monocots suggests overlapping or fluid functional evolution. The resulting gene family phylogeny of CMT transcripts from the most diverse sampling of plants to date redefines our understanding of CMT evolution and its evolutionary consequences on DNA methylation.