The sequence, structure and evolutionary features of HOTAIR in mammals
2011
Evolutionary Features of HOTAIR in Mammals
Sample size: 13
publication
Evidence: moderate
Author Information
Author(s): He Sha, Liu Shiping, Zhu Hao
Primary Institution: Southern Medical University
Hypothesis
Does HOTAIR exist in all mammals or vertebrates, and what are its evolutionary features?
Conclusion
HOTAIR exists in mammals, has poorly conserved sequences and considerably conserved structures, and has evolved faster than nearby HoxC genes.
Supporting Evidence
- HOTAIR is involved in the regulation of gene expression in cancer.
- Phylogenetic analysis revealed distinct evolutionary dynamics for orthologous sequences of HOTAIR exons.
- HOTAIR exons showed discrete evolutionary dynamics, with some having evolved significantly faster in primates.
- Structure prediction identifies two fragments in HOTAIR that are conserved across mammals.
Takeaway
HOTAIR is a special type of RNA found in mammals that helps control gene activity, and it has changed a lot over time compared to other genes.
Methodology
The study used computational methods to search genomes of 13 vertebrates for HOTAIR exons and analyzed their evolutionary dynamics.
Limitations
The study primarily focused on computational analysis, which may miss some functional elements.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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