
Open access
Datum
2022-06Typ
- Journal Article
ETH Bibliographie
yes
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Abstract
Gene duplication enables the emergence of new functions by lowering the evolutionary pressure that is posed on the ancestral genes. Previous studies have highlighted the role of specific paralog genes during cell differentiation, for example, in chromatin remodeling complexes. It remains unexplored whether similar mechanisms extend to other biological functions and whether the regulation of paralog genes is conserved across species. Here, we analyze the expression of paralogs across human tissues, during development and neuronal differentiation in fish, rodents and humans. Whereas ∼80% of paralog genes are co-regulated, a subset of paralogs shows divergent expression profiles, contributing to variability of protein complexes. We identify 78 substitutions of paralog pairs that occur during neuronal differentiation and are conserved across species. Among these, we highlight a substitution between the paralogs SEC23A and SEC23B members of the COPII complex. Altering the ratio between these two genes via RNAi-mediated knockdown is sufficient to influence neuron differentiation. We propose that remodeling of the vesicular transport system via paralog substitutions is an evolutionary conserved mechanism enabling neuronal differentiation. Mehr anzeigen
Persistenter Link
https://doi.org/10.3929/ethz-b-000538594Publikationsstatus
publishedExterne Links
Zeitschrift / Serie
Life Science AllianceBand
Seiten / Artikelnummer
Verlag
EMBO PressETH Bibliographie
yes
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