title: Positive selection on apoptosis related genes.
abstract: Apoptosis is a form of programmed cell death crucial for development, homeostasis, immunity, spermatogenesis, and prevention of cancer. Positive selection acting on mammalian apoptosis related genes targets protein interfaces that interact with pathogens and also elements of signaling complexes. Selection appears primarily to be driven by the immune/defense related function of these genes. Moreover, competitive interactions could be driving positive selection among sperm cells, as well as the need for protection against female anti-sperm immune responses. Trade-offs in fitness are expected out of these selective pressures, which could explain the involvement of these genes in various diseases, including cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Integrative Biology, UC-Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA. rute.r.da.fonseca@gmail.com
authors.forename: Rute R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: da Fonseca
authors.forename: Carolin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kosiol
authors.forename: Tomás
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Vinar
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Siepel
authors.forename: Rasmus
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nielsen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000235:genetics*; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008954:Models, Biological; D011506:Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D012641:Selection, Genetic; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D011506:Proteins