Evolutionary History of Histone Demethylase Families
Author Information
Author(s): Zhou Xiaofan, Ma Hong
Primary Institution: The Pennsylvania State University
Hypothesis
What are the distinct evolutionary patterns of histone demethylase families and their functional implications?
Conclusion
The study reveals distinct evolutionary patterns between animal and plant histone demethylases, suggesting functional divergence.
Supporting Evidence
- KDM1 genes have a stable low copy number in most organisms, while JmjC proteins show a birth-and-death evolution pattern.
- Distinct evolutionary patterns were observed between animal and plant histone demethylases.
- Some JmjC subfamilies contain only animal genes with specific demethylase activities.
Takeaway
Scientists studied how two families of proteins that remove chemical tags from DNA evolved differently in plants and animals, which helps us understand their roles in gene regulation.
Methodology
Systematic phylogenetic analysis of histone demethylase families using sequences from eukaryotes and bacteria.
Limitations
The study primarily focuses on a limited number of histone demethylases, especially in plants.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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