title: The molecular evolution of ZFY-related genes in birds and mammals.
abstract: We report the isolation and nucleotide sequence determination of clones derived from five ZFY-related zinc-finger genes from birds and mammals. These sequences are analyzed with reference to the previously published human genes, ZFX and ZFY, and mouse genes, Zfx, Zfa, Zfy-1, and Zfy-2. The analysis indicates that ZFY-related genes are highly conserved in birds and mammals, and that the rate of nucleotide substitution in the Y-linked genes is not as high as predicted. However, the mouse Zfy-1 and Zfy-2 genes are markedly divergent members of the ZFY gene family; we suggest this relates to X-inactivation of the mouse gene Zfx.
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, UK.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lanfear
authors.forename: P W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Holland
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D005075:Biological Evolution; D001717:Birds; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D006224:Cricetinae; D003412:Cricetulus; D005260:Female; D005589:Foxes; D005784:Gene Amplification; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D005810:Multigene Family; D013045:Species Specificity; D016335:Zinc Fingers / Q000235:genetics*