Fact or fiction: updates on how protein-coding genes might emergede novofrom previously non-coding DNA.
Over the last few years, there has been an increasing amount of evidence for thede novoemergence of protein-coding genes, i.e. out of non-coding DNA. Here, we review the current literature and summarize the state of the field. We focus specifically on open questions and challenges in the study ofde novoprotein-coding genes such as the identification and verification ofde novo-emerged genes. The greatest obstacle to date is the lack of high-quality genomic data with very short divergence times which could help precisely pin down the location of origin of ade novogene. We conclude that, while there is plenty of evidence from a genetics perspective, there is a lack of functional studies of bona fidede novogenes and almost no knowledge about protein structures and how they come about during the emergence ofde novoprotein-coding genes. We suggest that future studies should concentrate on the functional and structural characterization ofde novoprotein-coding genes as well as the detailed study of the emergence of functionalde novoprotein-coding genes.
Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity, University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany.
Jonathan F
JF
Schmitz
Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity, University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany.
Erich
E
Bornberg-Bauer
De novo protein evolution; de novo genes; gene emergence; novel genes; protein-coding genes