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METABOLIC FLUX IS A DETERMINANT OF THE EVOLUTIONARY RATES OF ENZYME‐ENCODING GENES
Author(s) -
Colombo Martino,
Laayouni Hafid,
Invergo Brandon M.,
Bertranpetit Jaume,
Montanucci Ludovica
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
evolution
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.84
H-Index - 199
eISSN - 1558-5646
pISSN - 0014-3820
DOI - 10.1111/evo.12262
Subject(s) - nonsynonymous substitution , biology , gene , metabolic network , selection (genetic algorithm) , flux (metallurgy) , evolutionary biology , negative selection , genetics , synonymous substitution , evolutionary dynamics , molecular evolution , encoding (memory) , natural selection , metabolic pathway , phenotype , adaptation (eye) , computational biology , genome , codon usage bias , population , materials science , demography , artificial intelligence , sociology , neuroscience , computer science , metallurgy
Relationships between evolutionary rates and gene properties on a genomic, functional, pathway, or system level are being explored to unravel the principles of the evolutionary process. In particular, functional network properties have been analyzed to recognize the constraints they may impose on the evolutionary fate of genes. Here we took as a case study the core metabolic network in human erythrocytes and we analyzed the relationship between the evolutionary rates of its genes and the metabolic flux distribution throughout it. We found that metabolic flux correlates with the ratio of nonsynonymous to synonymous substitution rates. Genes encoding enzymes that carry high fluxes have been more constrained in their evolution, while purifying selection is more relaxed in genes encoding enzymes carrying low metabolic fluxes. These results demonstrate the importance of considering the dynamical functioning of gene networks when assessing the action of selection on system‐level properties.