Researchers from University of Wisconsin discuss findings in gene therapy
2007 NOV 22 -- "How gene duplication and divergence contribute to genetic novelty and adaptation has been of intense interest, but experimental evidence has been limited. The genetic switch controlling the yeast galactose use pathway includes two paralogous genes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae that encode a co-inducer (GAL3) and a galactokinase (GAL1)," researchers in the United States report. "These paralogues arose from a single bifunctional ancestral gene as is still present in Kluyveromyces lactis. To determine which evolutionary processes shaped the evolution of the two paralogues, here we assess the effects of precise replacement of coding and non-coding sequences on organismal fitness. We suggest that duplication of the ancestral bifunctional gene allowed for the resolution of an adaptive conflict between the transcriptional regulation of the two gene functions," wrote C.T. Hittinger and colleagues, University of Wisconsin. The researchers concluded: "After duplication, previously disfavoured binding site configurations evolved that divided the regulation of the ancestral gene into two specialized genes, one of which ultimately became one of the most tightly regulated genes in the genome." Hittinger and colleagues published their study in Nature (Gene duplication and the adaptive evolution of a classic genetic switch. Nature, 2007;449(7163):677-U1). For additional information, contact C.T. Hittinger, University of Wisconsin, Howard Hughes Med Institute, Genetics Laboratory, 1525 Linden Dr., Madison, WI 53706, USA. Publisher contact information for the journal Nature is: Nature Publishing Group, Macmillan Building, 4 Crinan St., London N1 9XW, England. Keywords: United States, Madison, Biotechnology, Gene Therapy, University of Wisconsin. This article was prepared by Genetics & Environmental Business Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2007, Genetics & Environmental Business Week via NewsRx.com.
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