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Duplication and functional diversification of pancreatic ribonuclease (RNASE1) gene

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  • Molecular Genetics
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Chinese Science Bulletin

Abstract

Adaptation is one of the most fundamental issues in the studies of organismal evolution. Pancreatic ribonuclease is a very important digestive enzyme and secreted by the pancreas. Numerous studies have suggested that RNASE1 gene duplication is closely related to the functional adaptation of the digestive system in the intestinal fermentation herbivores. RNASE1 gene thus becomes one of the most important candidate genetic markers to study the molecular mechanism of adaptation of organisms to the feeding habit. Interestingly, RNASE1 gene duplication has also been found in some non-intestinal fermentation mammals, suggesting that RNASE1 gene may have produced novel tissue specificity or functions in these species. In this review, RNASE1 gene and its implications in adaptive evolution, especially in association with the feeding habit of organisms, are summarized.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-resource, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, China

    XiaoYan Wang, NengZhi Li, Li Yu, Hui Zhao & YaPing Zhang

  2. State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650223, China

    XiaoYan Wang, NengZhi Li, Li Yu, Hui Zhao & YaPing Zhang

Authors
  1. XiaoYan Wang
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  2. NengZhi Li
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  3. Li Yu
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  4. Hui Zhao
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  5. YaPing Zhang
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Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Li Yu or YaPing Zhang.

Additional information

This work was supported by the State Key Basic Research and Development Program of China (Grant No. 2007CB411600) and National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. U0836603).

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Wang, X., Li, N., Yu, L. et al. Duplication and functional diversification of pancreatic ribonuclease (RNASE1) gene. Chin. Sci. Bull. 55, 2–6 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11434-009-0717-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11434-009-0717-y

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