FEBS Letters
Volume 584, Issue 3 , Pages 469-476, 5 February 2010

Positive selection on apoptosis related genes

Edited by Takashi Gojobori

  • Rute R. da Fonseca

      Affiliations

    • Departments of Integrative Biology and Statistics, UC-Berkeley, 4096 VLSB, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
    • Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 15, 2100 Kbh O, Denmark
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. Address: Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 15, 2100 Kbh O, Denmark.
    • ,
  • Carolin Kosiol

      Affiliations

    • Department of Biological Statistics and Computational Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
    • ,
  • Tomáš Vinař

      Affiliations

    • Department of Biological Statistics and Computational Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
    • ,
  • Adam Siepel

      Affiliations

    • Department of Biological Statistics and Computational Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
    • ,
  • Rasmus Nielsen

      Affiliations

    • Departments of Integrative Biology and Statistics, UC-Berkeley, 4096 VLSB, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
    • Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 15, 2100 Kbh O, Denmark

Received 28 September 2009; received in revised form 15 December 2009; accepted 15 December 2009. published online 22 December 2009.

Abstract 

Apoptosis is a form of programmed cell death crucial for development, homeostasis, immunity, spermatogenesis, and prevention of cancer. Positive selection acting on mammalian apoptosis related genes targets protein interfaces that interact with pathogens and also elements of signaling complexes. Selection appears primarily to be driven by the immune/defense related function of these genes. Moreover, competitive interactions could be driving positive selection among sperm cells, as well as the need for protection against female anti-sperm immune responses. Trade-offs in fitness are expected out of these selective pressures, which could explain the involvement of these genes in various diseases, including cancer.

Keywords: Apoptosis, Positive selection, Molecular evolution, Immune system, Cancer, Segregation distortion

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PII: S0014-5793(09)01068-0

doi:10.1016/j.febslet.2009.12.022

FEBS Letters
Volume 584, Issue 3 , Pages 469-476, 5 February 2010

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