1. The Novelty of Human Cancer/Testis Antigen Encoding Genes in Evolution.
- Author
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Dobrynin, Pavel, Matyunina, Ekaterina, Malov, S. V., and Kozlov, A. P.
- Subjects
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GENOMICS , *TESTICULAR cancer , *GERM cells , *GENE families , *HOMOLOGY (Biology) , *BIOLOGICAL evolution , *GENETICS - Abstract
In order to be inherited in progeny generations, novel genes should originate in germcells. Here, we suggest that the testesmay play a special "catalyst" role in the birth and evolution of new genes. Cancer/testis antigen encoding genes (CT genes) are predominantly expressed both in testes and in a variety of tumors. By the criteria of evolutionary novelty, the CT genes are, indeed, novel genes. We performed homology searches for sequences similar to human CT in various animals and established thatmost of the CT genes are either found in humans only or are relatively recent in their origin. A majority of all human CT genes originated during or after the origin of Eutheria. These results suggest relatively recent origin of human CT genes and align with the hypothesis of the special role of the testes in the evolution of the gene families. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2013
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