Abstract
The Krü ppel-like factor and specificity protein (KLF/SP) genes play key roles in critical biological processes including stem cell maintenance, cell proliferation, embryonic development, tissue differentiation, and metabolism and their dysregulation has been implicated in a number of human diseases and cancers. Although many KLF/SP genes have been characterized in a handful of bilaterian lineages, little is known about the KLF/SP gene family in nonbilaterians and virtually nothing is known outside the metazoans. Here, we analyze and discuss the origins and evolutionary history of the KLF/SP transcription factor family and associated transactivation/repression domains. We have identified and characterized the complete KLF/SP gene complement from the genomes of 48 species spanning the Eukarya. We have also examined the phylogenetic distribution of transactivation/repression domains associated with this gene family. We report that the origin of the KLF/SP gene family predates the divergence of the Metazoa. Furthermore, the expansion of the KLF/SP gene family is paralleled by diversification of transactivation domains via both acquisitions of pre-existing ancient domains as well as by the appearance of novel domains exclusive to this gene family and is strongly associated with the expansion of cell type complexity.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 2289-2309 |
Number of pages | 21 |
Journal | Genome biology and evolution |
Volume | 7 |
Issue number | 8 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Aug 1 2015 |
Keywords
- C2H2 zinc fingers
- Domain architecture
- Domain co-occurrence network
- Domain evolution
- Domain shuffling
- Low-complexity regions
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
- Genetics