title: Differential evolution of MAGE genes based on expression pattern and selection pressure.
abstract: Starting from publicly-accessible datasets, we have utilized comparative and phylogenetic genome analyses to characterize the evolution of the human MAGE gene family. Our characterization of genomic structures in representative genomes of primates, rodents, carnivora, and macroscelidea indicates that both Type I and Type II MAGE genes have undergone lineage-specific evolution. The restricted expression pattern in germ cells of Type I MAGE orthologs is observed throughout evolutionary history. Unlike Type II MAGEs that have conserved promoter sequences, Type I MAGEs lack promoter conservation, suggesting that epigenetic regulation is a central mechanism for controlling their expression. Codon analysis shows that Type I but not Type II MAGE genes have been under positive selection. The combination of genomic and expression analysis suggests that Type 1 MAGE promoters and genes continue to evolve in the hominin lineage, perhaps towards functional diversification or acquiring additional specific functions, and that selection pressure at codon level is associated with expression spectrum.
authors.affiliation: Ludwig Collaborative Laboratory, Department of Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America. qzhao1@jhmi.edu
authors.forename: Qi
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Otavia L
authors.initials: OL
authors.lastname: Caballero
authors.forename: Andrew J G
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Simpson
authors.forename: Robert L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Strausberg
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005075:Biological Evolution; D030541:Databases, Genetic; D004285:Dogs; D004606:Elephants; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D023281:Genomics; D006801:Humans; D016013:Likelihood Functions; D008253:Macaca mulatta; D058950:Melanoma-Specific Antigens / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D005810:Multigene Family; D002679:Pan troglodytes; D010802:Phylogeny; D057079:Pongo; D051381:Rats; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D058950:Melanoma-Specific Antigens