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Genomic Exploration of the Hemiascomycetous Yeasts: 21. Comparative functional classification of genes
Author(s) -
Gaillardin Claude,
Duchateau-Nguyen Guillemette,
Tekaia Fredj,
Llorente Bertrand,
Casaregola Serge,
Toffano-Nioche Claire,
Aigle Michel,
Artiguenave François,
Blandin Gaëlle,
Bolotin-Fukuhara Monique,
Bon Elisabeth,
Brottier Philippe,
de Montigny Jacky,
Dujon Bernard,
Durrens Pascal,
Lépingle Andrée,
Malpertuy Alain,
Neuvéglise Cécile,
Ozier-Kalogéropoulos Odile,
Potier Serge,
Saurin William,
Termier Michel,
Wésolowski-Louvel Micheline,
Wincker Patrick,
Souciet Jean-Luc,
Weissenbach Jean
Publication year - 2000
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/s0014-5793(00)02292-4
Subject(s) - biology , gene , genetics , horizontal gene transfer , gene family , saccharomyces cerevisiae , phylogenetics , evolutionary biology , yeast , computational biology , genome
We explored the biological diversity of hemiascomycetous yeasts using a set of 22 000 newly identified genes in 13 species through BLASTX searches. Genes without clear homologue in Saccharomyces cerevisiae appeared to be conserved in several species, suggesting that they were recently lost by S. cerevisiae . They often identified well‐known species‐specific traits. Cases of gene acquisition through horizontal transfer appeared to occur very rarely if at all. All identified genes were ascribed to functional classes. Functional classes were differently represented among species. Species classification by functional clustering roughly paralleled rDNA phylogeny. Unequal distribution of rapidly evolving, ascomycete‐specific, genes among species and functions was shown to contribute strongly to this clustering. A few cases of gene family amplification were documented, but no general correlation could be observed between functional differentiation of yeast species and variations of gene family sizes. Yeast biological diversity seems thus to result from limited species‐specific gene losses or duplications, and for a large part from rapid evolution of genes and regulatory factors dedicated to specific functions.