title: Gene duplication and an accelerated evolutionary rate in 11S globulin genes are associated with higher protein synthesis in dicots as compared to monocots.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Seed storage proteins are a major source of dietary protein, and the content of such proteins determines both the quantity and quality of crop yield. Significantly, examination of the protein content in the seeds of crop plants shows a distinct difference between monocots and dicots. Thus, it is expected that there are different evolutionary patterns in the genes underlying protein synthesis in the seeds of these two groups of plants.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Gene duplication, evolutionary rate and positive selection of a major gene family of seed storage proteins (the 11S globulin genes), were compared in dicots and monocots. The results, obtained from five species in each group, show more gene duplications, a higher evolutionary rate and positive selections of this gene family in dicots, which are rich in 11S globulins, but not in the monocots.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings provide evidence to support the suggestion that gene duplication and an accelerated evolutionary rate may be associated with higher protein synthesis in dicots as compared to monocots.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement, College of Agriculture, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, PR China.
authors.forename: Chun
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Meng
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Jim M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Dunwell
authors.forename: Yuan-Ming
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D020440:Gene Duplication; D005916:Globulins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D019684:Magnoliopsida / Q000235:genetics*; D010802:Phylogeny; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D055314:Seed Storage Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D005916:Globulins; D010940:Plant Proteins; D055314:Seed Storage Proteins