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Structural and functional characterization of a putative de novo gene in Drosophila

Author

Listed:
  • Andreas Lange

    (University of Münster)

  • Prajal H. Patel

    (College of the Holy Cross)

  • Brennen Heames

    (University of Münster)

  • Adam M. Damry

    (ANU College of Science)

  • Thorsten Saenger

    (Liver and Metabolic Diseases, Hannover Medical School)

  • Colin J. Jackson

    (ANU College of Science)

  • Geoffrey D. Findlay

    (College of the Holy Cross)

  • Erich Bornberg-Bauer

    (University of Münster)

Abstract

Comparative genomic studies have repeatedly shown that new protein-coding genes can emerge de novo from noncoding DNA. Still unknown is how and when the structures of encoded de novo proteins emerge and evolve. Combining biochemical, genetic and evolutionary analyses, we elucidate the function and structure of goddard, a gene which appears to have evolved de novo at least 50 million years ago within the Drosophila genus. Previous studies found that goddard is required for male fertility. Here, we show that Goddard protein localizes to elongating sperm axonemes and that in its absence, elongated spermatids fail to undergo individualization. Combining modelling, NMR and circular dichroism (CD) data, we show that Goddard protein contains a large central α-helix, but is otherwise partially disordered. We find similar results for Goddard’s orthologs from divergent fly species and their reconstructed ancestral sequences. Accordingly, Goddard’s structure appears to have been maintained with only minor changes over millions of years.

Suggested Citation

  • Andreas Lange & Prajal H. Patel & Brennen Heames & Adam M. Damry & Thorsten Saenger & Colin J. Jackson & Geoffrey D. Findlay & Erich Bornberg-Bauer, 2021. "Structural and functional characterization of a putative de novo gene in Drosophila," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-13, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:12:y:2021:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-021-21667-6
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-21667-6
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    Cited by:

    1. Rujia Chen & Ning Xiao & Yue Lu & Tianyun Tao & Qianfeng Huang & Shuting Wang & Zhichao Wang & Mingli Chuan & Qing Bu & Zhou Lu & Hanyao Wang & Yanze Su & Yi Ji & Jianheng Ding & Ahmed Gharib & Huixin, 2023. "A de novo evolved gene contributes to rice grain shape difference between indica and japonica," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-13, December.
    2. Junhui Peng & Li Zhao, 2024. "The origin and structural evolution of de novo genes in Drosophila," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-14, December.

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