The Evolution of Combinatorial Gene Regulation in Fungi
Author Information
Author(s): Brian B. Tuch, David J. Galgoczy, Aaron D. Hernday, Hao Li, Alexander D. Johnson
Primary Institution: University of California, San Francisco
Hypothesis
How does combinatorial control influence the evolution of transcriptional circuits in fungi?
Conclusion
The study reveals extensive rewiring of combinatorial gene regulation in fungi, with significant gains and losses of Mcm1 binding sites across species.
Supporting Evidence
- Mcm1 binds roughly 4% of the genes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and approximately 12% in Kluyveromyces lactis and Candida albicans.
- The study found evidence of massive network rewiring, including high rates of gain and loss of Mcm1 binding sites.
- Only 12 genes are part of the Mcm1 circuit in all three species, indicating low conservation.
Takeaway
This study shows that the way genes are controlled in fungi has changed a lot over time, with some genes gaining new controls and others losing them.
Methodology
ChIP-Chip analysis was performed on Mcm1 in three species and combined with comparative genomics across 32 fungal species.
Limitations
The study primarily focuses on three species and may not capture the full diversity of combinatorial regulation in all fungi.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p < 10−45
Statistical Significance
p < 10−3
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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