Here’s a summary of the provided text, focusing on the key findings and implications:
The research, led by Li Zhao at Rockefeller, explores the regulation of de novo genes, which are newly evolved genes. This understanding is crucial for both evolutionary biology and the study of diseases like cancer, characterized by genetic dysregulation.
Zhao’s lab has made significant progress in answering how these de novo genes are regulated, a question initially posed to her by Nobel laureate Torsten Weisel. Through advancements in technology and computational methods, including single-cell sequencing in Drosophila testes, they have identified key regulatory mechanisms.
Two recent papers highlight their findings:
Nature Ecology & Evolution paper: This study identified three master regulator transcription factors that control the majority of de novo genes. By manipulating the copy numbers of these factors in flies, the researchers observed direct, frequently enough linear, shifts in de novo gene expression, confirming their regulatory role.
PNAS paper: This research investigated the genomic neighborhoods of de novo genes. They discovered that these young genes frequently enough share regulatory elements with older, established genes, suggesting a mechanism of co-regulation.
These findings are interconnected, explaining both how the cellular habitat regulates new genes and how genes collaborate in their regulation.
The research also has implications for understanding the origin of de novo genes.While not definitively proving causation, the ability to induce significant changes in de novo gene expression by manipulating transcription factors suggests a potential link.
Ultimately, Zhao anticipates that continued study of de novo gene regulation will provide broader insights into the evolution of gene networks and the consequences of their dysregulation. Due to their simpler regulation and shorter evolutionary history, de novo genes offer a valuable model for understanding the complexities of the entire genome.
