Evolutionary History of Class 4 Histone Deacetylases
Author Information
Author(s): Valérie Ledent, Michel Vervoort
Primary Institution: Université Libre de Bruxelles
Hypothesis
What is the evolutionary history of the class 4 histone deacetylase family?
Conclusion
The class 4 histone deacetylase family shows unexpected phylogenetic relationships that may be explained by ancient gene duplication and horizontal gene transfer.
Supporting Evidence
- Class 4 histone deacetylases were identified in 45 eukaryotic and 37 eubacterial species.
- Phylogenetic analyses revealed that the relationships among these proteins do not match the species they are found in.
- The study suggests that horizontal gene transfer may have played a significant role in the evolution of these proteins.
Takeaway
Scientists studied a family of proteins that help control how genes are turned on and off, and found that their history is more complicated than expected, possibly due to genes moving between different species.
Methodology
The study involved sequence similarity searches and multiple phylogenetic analyses to identify and analyze class 4 histone deacetylases in various species.
Limitations
The study may not account for all possible gene transfers and the evolutionary history could be more complex than presented.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
Want to read the original?
Access the complete publication on the publisher's website