Selective Constraints on Indels in Mammalian 5' UTRs
Author Information
Author(s): Chen Chun-Hsi, Liao Ben-Yang, Chen Feng-Chi
Primary Institution: National Health Research Institutes
Hypothesis
Natural selection disfavors non-3n indels in 5'UTRs when regulatory elements are present.
Conclusion
This study demonstrates that non-3n indels are subject to selective constraints in mammalian 5'UTRs, particularly associated with regulatory functions.
Supporting Evidence
- More than 45% of human genes and 41% of mouse genes have at least one uORF.
- Non-3n indels are significantly more depleted downstream of alternative and overlapping uORFs.
- The results were consistent across different transcript selection criteria.
Takeaway
The study found that certain types of genetic changes in mammals are less likely to happen in important areas of genes that help control protein production.
Methodology
The Indel Selection Index was developed to measure selective constraints on non-3n indels in 5'UTRs by comparing human and mouse orthologous genes.
Potential Biases
Potential biases from transcript selection and alignment tools may affect the results.
Limitations
The study's transcript selection criteria may introduce biases, and the analysis is based on pairwise alignments, limiting the ability to distinguish between insertions and deletions.
Participant Demographics
Human and mouse genes were analyzed.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<10E-8
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
Want to read the original?
Access the complete publication on the publisher's website