title: Evolution of the achaete-scute complex in insects: convergent duplication of proneural genes.
abstract: Proneural genes encode transcriptional activators of the basic Helix-loop-helix class that are involved in neuronal specification and differentiation. We have used the recent availability of genome sequences of multiple distant insect species to study the evolution of a family of proneural genes, the achaete-scute genes, and to examine their genomic organization and evolution. We document independent evolution of multiple copies of achaete-scute homologues and argue that this might have contributed to morphological diversity in Diptera and Lepidoptera.
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EJ, UK.
authors.forename: Bárbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Negre
authors.forename: Pat
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Simpson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D004175:Diptera; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D016678:Genome; D007915:Lepidoptera; D008954:Models, Biological; D008957:Models, Genetic; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism*; D010802:Phylogeny; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; C089199:ac protein, Drosophila; C089197:sc protein, Drosophila