Year: 2017
Type: preprint
Abstract: Relatively little is known about the in vivo functions of newly emerging genes, especially in metazoans. Although prior RNAi studies reported prevalent lethality among young gene knockdowns, our phylogenomic analyses reveal that young Drosophila genes are frequently restricted to the nonessential male reproductive system. We performed large-scale CRISPR/Cas9 mutagenesis of “conserved, essential” and “young, RNAi-lethal” genes and broadly confirmed the lethality of the former but the viability of the latter. Nevertheless, certain young gene mutants exhibit defective spermatogenesis and/or male sterility. Moreover, we detected widespread signatures of positive selection on young male-biased genes. Thus, young genes have a preferential impact on male reproductive system function.
Source: Genes & Development
Language: English
Subfield: Plant Science
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
Funders: Mochida Memorial Foundation for Medical and Pharmaceutical Research, National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute, National Institute of General Medical Sciences, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
Awards: Mechanism and regulation of Hu family RNA binding proteins during neural alternative polyadenylation, G1572962677, G280623092, G3346463861, Calcium Independent Phospholipase A2 in Drosophila, G5063761230, G9000003249, G9000347304, G9000352780, Cancer Center Support Grant, Selective regulatory and biogenesis mechanisms for microRNAs
OpenAlex ID: W2765878699