Gene Birth, Death, and Divergence: The Different Scenarios of Reproduction-Related Gene Evolution1

Abstract

Reproductive genes are known to evolve more rapidly than genes expressed in other organs. In this paper we present an overview and bring some new data on the evolutionary study of reproduction-related genes by integrating phylogeny with gene genomic localization. We focus on the gene evolutionary processes of gene birth, death, and divergence. We show that phylogenetic gene birth is confirmed by gene location in genomes, which definitively localized the "place of birth" of new genes (such as Obox and KHDC1/DPPA5/ECAT1/OOEP gene families). By finding their "place of death" in genomes, it also demonstrates that ZP genes TGM4 and OVGP1 have been lost in certain species during vertebrate evolution. Moreover, in the case of gene divergence, comparison of gene locations across different genomes establishes orthologous relationships that are weakly supported by the phylogenetic tree. Specifically, genomic localization demonstrates that the fish and bird mtnr1c (Mel1C) receptor is orthologous to mammalian GPR50, and that ungulate genomes contain new seminal vesicle-specific BSP genes that are not present in other species. Overall, the phylogenomic approach to gene evolution presented in this paper offers more insight into gene function, such as species-specific duplications for speciation, changes in gene expression due to gene divergence, and functional loss by gene death.

The secretions of oviduct epithelial cells increase the equine in vitrofertilization rate: are osteopontin, atrial natriuretic peptide A and oviductin involved?

“…Subsequently, on the one hand, we might suppose that OVGP1 is a pseudogene, i.e. a gene that has accumulated mutations during time and is become inactive, as previously described in the rat [86]. On the other hand, this stop codon is maybe due to sequencing error, engendering a frameshift.…”

Two novel mutations in the KHDC3L gene in Asian patients with recurrent hydatidiform mole

“…22 This belief is in line with our observation of the tandem repeats in KHDC3L and that KHDC3L is located very close to three other related genes ( KHDC1 / DPPA5 / OOEP ) on chromosome 6. 23 …”

Evolutionary History of Tissue Kallikreins

“…Rhesus monkeys are polygamous in nature, therefore the presence of copulatory plug is important for sperm competition and mate guardingOn the contrary, gorillas are monogamous in nature and there is no need for mate guarding and sperm competition, therefore the aforementioned genes have been inactivated through selection. In addition, a copulatory plug does not exist in cow which is further characterized by the absence of TGM4 [53], necessary for semen coagulum formation as well as absence of KLK2 and KLK3 that dissolve the coagulum. Further, absence of TGM4 has been reported in opossum and again we did not find KLK2 and KLK3 genes in opossum [53].…”

“…In addition, a copulatory plug does not exist in cow which is further characterized by the absence of TGM4 [53], necessary for semen coagulum formation as well as absence of KLK2 and KLK3 that dissolve the coagulum. Further, absence of TGM4 has been reported in opossum and again we did not find KLK2 and KLK3 genes in opossum [53]. Chimpanzee is another polygamous primate and although the genes encoding for KLK2 and KLK3 have not been deleted in this animal the gene for semenogelin I encodes for a more viscous protein of higher molecular weight compared to humans due to a greater number of repeated units [52].…”

“…Rodents are highly polygamous in nature. The seminal vesicles of rats and mice secrete six proteins designated SVS1-6 from which SVS-2-6 are homologues to semenogelins [54], while semen also contains prostate transglutaminase [53]. These proteins cause plug formation, while absence of KLK2 and KLK3 prevents dissolution of the copulatory plug and, thus, rapid semen liquefaction.…”