Molecular evolution of genes recruited into C₄ photosynthesis.
The C₄ pathway is found in 62 lineages of land plants. We assess evidence for parallel versus convergent evolution of C₄ photosynthesis from three approaches: (i) studies of specific genes and cis-elements controlling their expression; (ii) phylogenetic analyses of mRNAs and inferred amino acid sequences; and (iii) analysis of C₃ and C₄ genomes and transcriptomes. Evidence suggests that although convergent evolution is common, parallel evolution can underlie both changes to gene expression and amino acid sequence. cis-elements that direct cell specificity in C₄ leaves are present in C₃ orthologues of genes recruited into C₄, probably facilitating this parallel evolution. From this, and genomic data, we propose that gene duplication followed by neofunctionalisation is not necessarily important in the evolution of C₄ biochemistry.
Department of Plant Sciences, Downing Street, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EA, UK.
Ben P
BP
Williams
Sylvain
S
Aubry
Julian M
JM
Hibberd
D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D010788:Photosynthesis; D010802:Phylogeny; D059467:Transcriptome