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Evolution of nitric oxide synthase regulatory genes by DNA Inversion

journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-07, 23:46 authored by Sergei Korneev, Michael O'Shea
DNA inversions are mutations involving major rearrangements of the genome and are often regarded as either deleterious or catastrophic to gene function and can be associated with genomic disorders, such as Hunter syndrome and some forms of hemophilia. Here, we propose that DNA inversions are also an essential and hitherto unrecognized component of gene evolution in eukaryotic cells. Specifically, we provide evidence that an ancestral neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) gene was duplicated and that one copy retained its original function, whereas an internal DNA inversion occurred in the other. Crucially, the inversion resulted in the creation of new regulatory elements required for the termination and activation of transcription. In consequence, the duplicated gene was split, and two new and independently expressed genes were created. Through its dependence on DNA inversion, this is a fundamentally new scheme for gene evolution, which we show as being of particular relevance to the generation of endogenous antisense-containing RNA molecules. Functionally, such transcripts can operate as natural negative regulators of the expression of the genes to which they are related through a common ancestor.

History

Publication status

  • Published

Journal

Molecular Biology and Evolution

ISSN

0737-4038

Issue

8

Volume

19

Page range

1228-1233

Pages

6.0

Department affiliated with

  • Neuroscience Publications

Notes

First author. This paper shows that intragenic DNA inversions are an important and hitherto unrecognized component of gene evolution in eukaryotic cells. We demonstrate that this fundamentally new scheme for gene evolution is of particular relevance to the creation of genes producing natural antisense RNA molecules.

Full text available

  • No

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2012-02-06

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