The evolution of the adenylate-forming protein family in beetles: Multiple luciferase gene paralogues in fireflies and glow-worms
Bioluminescence in beetles is dependent upon the enzyme luciferase. It has been hypothesised luciferase evolved from a fatty acyl-CoA synthetase gene deriving a novel bioluminescent function (neofunctionalization) after a gene duplication event. We evaluated this hypothesis within a phylogenetic fra...
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Published in | Molecular phylogenetics and evolution Vol. 50; no. 1; pp. 93 - 101 |
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Main Authors | , , |
Format | Journal Article |
Language | English |
Published |
United States
Elsevier Inc
2009
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Subjects | |
Online Access | Get full text |
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Summary: | Bioluminescence in beetles is dependent upon the enzyme luciferase. It has been hypothesised luciferase evolved from a fatty acyl-CoA synthetase gene deriving a novel bioluminescent function (neofunctionalization) after a gene duplication event. We evaluated this hypothesis within a phylogenetic framework using independent evidence obtained from the genome of
Tribolium castaneum, published luciferase genes and novel luciferase and luciferase-like sequences. This phylogenetic study provides evidence for a large gene family of luciferase and luciferase-like paralogues in bioluminescent and non-bioluminescent beetles. All luciferase sequences formed a clade supporting a protoluciferase existing prior to the divergence of the Lampyridae, Elateridae and Phengodidae (Elateroidea). Multiple luciferase genes were identified from members of the Photurinae and the Luciolinae indicating complex gene duplication events within lampyrid genomes. The majority of luciferase residues were identified to be under purifying selection as opposed to positive selection. We conclude that beetle luciferase may have arisen from a process of subfunctionalization as opposed to neofunctionalization early on in the evolution of the Elateroidea. |
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Bibliography: | ObjectType-Article-1 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-2 content type line 23 |
ISSN: | 1055-7903 1095-9513 |
DOI: | 10.1016/j.ympev.2008.09.026 |