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Parallel evolution of IDH2 gene in cetaceans, primates and bats
Author(s) -
Ai Wei-Ming,
Chen Shao-Bo,
Chen Xiao,
Shen Xue-Juan,
Shen Yong-Yi
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
febs letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.593
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1873-3468
pISSN - 0014-5793
DOI - 10.1016/j.febslet.2013.12.005
Subject(s) - biology , gene , energy metabolism , parallel evolution , evolutionary biology , molecular evolution , phylogenetics , primate , biological evolution , genetics , ecology , endocrinology
Cetaceans and primates both have large brains that require large amounts of aerobic energy metabolism. In bats, the cost of flight makes locomotion energetically demanding. These mammalian groups may represent three independent evolutionary origins of an energy‐demanding lifestyle in mammals. IDH2 encodes an enzyme in the tricarboxylic acid cycle in the mitochondrion, which plays a key role in aerobic energy metabolism. In this study, we cloned and sequenced this gene in two cetaceans, and 19 bat species, and compared the data with available primate sequences to test its evolution. We found significant signals of parallel evolution in this gene among these three groups. Parallel evolution of this gene may reflect their parallel evolution towards a higher demand for energy.