Analysis of a complete homeobox gene repertoire: implications for the evolution of diversity.
The completion of sequencing projects for various organisms has already advanced our insight into the evolution of entire genomes and the role of gene duplications. One multigene family that has served as a paradigm for the study of gene duplications and molecular evolution is the family of homeodomain-encoding genes. I present here an analysis of the homeodomain repertoire of an entire genome, that of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, in relation to our current knowledge of these genes in plants, arthropods, and mammals. A methodological framework is developed that proposes approaches for the analysis of homeodomain repertoires and multigene families in general.
Kappen
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S. C. Johnson Medical Research Center, Mayo Clinic Scottsdale, 13400 East Shea Boulevard, Scottsdale, AZ 85259, USA. ckappen@unmc.edu
D000818:Animals; D001181:Arthropods / Q000235:genetics; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000235:genetics*; D004330:Drosophila / Q000235:genetics; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D005801:Genes, Homeobox; D014644:Genetic Variation; D008322:Mammals / Q000235:genetics; D008957:Models, Genetic; D005810:Multigene Family; D010802:Phylogeny; D010944:Plants / Q000235:genetics; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000235:genetics