title: Recent evolution of the salivary mucin MUC7.
abstract: Genomic structural variants constitute the majority of variable base pairs in primate genomes and affect gene function in multiple ways. While whole gene duplications and deletions are relatively well-studied, the biology of subexonic (i.e., within coding exon sequences), copy number variation remains elusive. The salivary MUC7 gene provides an opportunity for studying such variation, as it harbors copy number variable subexonic repeat sequences that encode for densely O-glycosylated domains (PTS-repeats) with microbe-binding properties. To understand the evolution of this gene, we analyzed mammalian and primate genomes within a comparative framework. Our analyses revealed that (i) MUC7 has emerged in the placental mammal ancestor and rapidly gained multiple sites for O-glycosylation; (ii) MUC7 has retained its extracellular activity in saliva in placental mammals; (iii) the anti-fungal domain of the protein was remodified under positive selection in the primate lineage; and (iv) MUC7 PTS-repeats have evolved recurrently and under adaptive constraints. Our results establish MUC7 as a major player in salivary adaptation, likely as a response to diverse pathogenic exposure in primates. On a broader scale, our study highlights variable subexonic repeats as a primary source for modular evolutionary innovation that lead to rapid functional adaptation.
authors: Department of Biological Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, New York 14260, USA.
authors: Duo
authors: D
authors: Xu
authors: Institute of Computer Science (ICS), Foundation of Research and Technology-Hellas, Heraklion, Crete, Greece.
authors: Pavlos
authors: P
authors: Pavlidis
authors: Department of Oral Biology, School of Dental Medicine, State University of New York at Buffalo, New York 14214, USA.
authors: Supaporn
authors: S
authors: Thamadilok
authors: Department of Biological Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, New York 14260, USA.
authors: Emilie
authors: E
authors: Redwood
authors: Department of Biological Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, New York 14260, USA.
authors: Sara
authors: S
authors: Fox
authors: Department of Genetics, Cell Biology, and Development, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, Minnesota 55455, USA.
authors: Ran
authors: R
authors: Blekhman
authors: Department of Oral Biology, School of Dental Medicine, State University of New York at Buffalo, New York 14214, USA.
authors: Stefan
authors: S
authors: Ruhl
authors: Department of Biological Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, New York 14260, USA.
authors: Omer
authors: O
authors: Gokcumen
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D000818:Animals; D001665:Binding Sites; D005075:Biological Evolution; D002875:Chromosomes / Q000648:ultrastructure; D056915:DNA Copy Number Variations; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D023281:Genomics; D005838:Genotype; D006031:Glycosylation; D006071:Gorilla gorilla; D006801:Humans; D008322:Mammals; D008957:Models, Genetic; D009077:Mucins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D002679:Pan troglodytes; D057079:Pongo; D011323:Primates; D000072417:Protein Domains; D012463:Saliva / Q000378:metabolism*; D012471:Salivary Proteins and Peptides / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C083238:MUC7 protein, human; D009077:Mucins; D012471:Salivary Proteins and Peptides