Heterogeneous evolution of the Myc-like Anthocyanin regulatory gene and its phylogenetic utility in Cornus L. (Cornaceae).
Anthocyanin is a major pigment in vegetative and floral organs of most plants and plays an important role in plant evolution. The anthocyanin regulatory genes are responsible for regulating transcription of genes in the anthocyanin synthetic pathway. To assess evolutionary significance of sequence variation and evaluate the phylogenetic utility of an anthocyanin regulatory gene, we compared nucleotide sequences of the myc-like anthocyanin regulatory gene in the genus of dogwoods (Cornus: Cornaceae). Phylogenetic analyses demonstrate that the myc-like anthocyanin regulatory gene has potential as an informative phylogenetic marker at different taxonomic levels, depending on the data set considered (DNA or protein sequences) and regions applied (exons or introns). Pairwise nonsynonymous and synonymous substitution rate tests and codon-based substitution models were applied to characterize variation and to identify sites under diversifying selection. Mosaic evolution and heterogeneous rates among different domains and sites were detected.
Fan
Chuanzhu
C
Department of Botany, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695-7612, USA. cfan@uchicago.edu
Purugganan
Michael D
MD
Thomas
David T
DT
Wiegmann
Brian M
BM
Xiang
Jenny Qiu-Yun
JQ
D000872:Anthocyanins / Q000235:genetics*; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D029768:Cornus / Q000235:genetics*; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D019992:Databases as Topic; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D017353:Gene Deletion; D017343:Genes, Plant; D016259:Genes, myc; D008957:Models, Genetic; D009154:Mutation; D010802:Phylogeny; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction
D000872:Anthocyanins; D017931:DNA Primers