title: KLF/SP Transcription Factor Family Evolution: Expansion, Diversification, and Innovation in Eukaryotes.
abstract: The Krüppel-like factor and specificity protein (KLF/SP) genes play key roles in critical biological processes including stem cell maintenance, cell proliferation, embryonic development, tissue differentiation, and metabolism and their dysregulation has been implicated in a number of human diseases and cancers. Although many KLF/SP genes have been characterized in a handful of bilaterian lineages, little is known about the KLF/SP gene family in nonbilaterians and virtually nothing is known outside the metazoans. Here, we analyze and discuss the origins and evolutionary history of the KLF/SP transcription factor family and associated transactivation/repression domains. We have identified and characterized the complete KLF/SP gene complement from the genomes of 48 species spanning the Eukarya. We have also examined the phylogenetic distribution of transactivation/repression domains associated with this gene family. We report that the origin of the KLF/SP gene family predates the divergence of the Metazoa. Furthermore, the expansion of the KLF/SP gene family is paralleled by diversification of transactivation domains via both acquisitions of pre-existing ancient domains as well as by the appearance of novel domains exclusive to this gene family and is strongly associated with the expansion of cell type complexity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Miami.
authors.forename: Jason S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Presnell
authors.affiliation: Genome Technology Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health.
authors.forename: Christine E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Schnitzler
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Miami wbrowne@bio.miami.edu.
authors.forename: William E
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Browne
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D056890:Eukaryota / Q000235:genetics; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D051741:Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D005810:Multigene Family; D010802:Phylogeny; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000737:chemistry; D051703:Sp Transcription Factors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000737:chemistry; D016335:Zinc Fingers
chemical_list: D051741:Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D051703:Sp Transcription Factors; D015534:Trans-Activators
keywords: C2H2 zinc fingers; domain architecture; domain co-occurrence network; domain evolution; domain shuffling; low-complexity regions