Gene expression, chromosome heterogeneity and the fast-X effect in mammals.

ABSTRACT: The higher rate of non-synonymous over synonymous substitutions (dN/dS) of the X chromosome compared with autosomes is often interpreted as a consequence of X hemizygosity. However, other factors, such as gene expression, are also known to vary between X and autosomes. Analysing 4800 orthologues in six mammals, we found that gene expression levels, associated with GC content, fully account for the variation in dN/dS between X and autosomes with no detectable effect of hemizygosity. We also report an extensive variance in dN/dS and gene expression between autosomes.

SUBMITTER: Nguyen LP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4360113 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature