Comparative analysis of function and interaction of transcription factors in nematodes: Extensive conservation of orthology coupled to rapid sequence evolution
2008

Study of Transcription Factors in Nematodes

Sample size: 3 publication 10 minutes Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Haerty Wilfried, Artieri Carlo, Khezri Navid, Singh Rama S, Gupta Bhagwati P

Primary Institution: Department of Biology, McMaster University

Hypothesis

We sought to identify orthologous transcription factors and characterize their patterns of evolution across nematodes and other organisms.

Conclusion

The findings indicate substantial conservation of transcription factors even across distant evolutionary lineages.

Supporting Evidence

  • 988 transcription factor genes were identified in C. elegans.
  • 652 three-way reciprocal best hit orthologs were found among the three nematode species.
  • 150 transcription factors were conserved across nematodes, fruit fly, mouse, and human.

Takeaway

This study looks at how certain genes that control other genes are similar in different types of worms, showing that they have stayed mostly the same over a long time.

Methodology

We identified transcription factors in C. elegans and its relatives using genome sequences and computational methods.

Potential Biases

The reliance on computational predictions may introduce biases in the identification of transcription factors.

Limitations

Many of the identified transcription factors are based on computational predictions and require experimental validation.

Participant Demographics

The study focuses on three species of nematodes: C. elegans, C. briggsae, and C. remanei.

Statistical Information

P-Value

6.0 × 10-3

Statistical Significance

p<0.05

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1186/1471-2164-9-399

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