The Adenine/Thymine Deleterious Selection Model for GC Content Evolution at the Third Codon Position of the Histone Genes in Drosophila

Yoshinori Matsuo

doi:10.3390/genes12050721

The Adenine/Thymine Deleterious Selection Model for GC Content Evolution at the Third Codon Position of the Histone Genes in Drosophila

Genes (Basel). 2021 May 12;12(5):721. doi: 10.3390/genes12050721.

Author

Yoshinori Matsuo¹

Affiliation

¹ Division of Science and Technology, Tokushima University, 2-1 Minamijosanjima-cho, Tokushima 770-8506, Japan.

Abstract

The evolution of the GC (guanine cytosine) content at the third codon position of the histone genes (H1, H2A, H2B, H3, H4, H2AvD, H3.3A, H3.3B, and H4r) in 12 or more Drosophila species is reviewed. For explaining the evolution of the GC content at the third codon position of the genes, a model assuming selection with a deleterious effect for adenine/thymine and a size effect is presented. The applicability of the model to whole-genome genes is also discussed.

Keywords: Drosophila; GC content; codon usage; histone gene; size effect.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Animals
Base Composition*
Codon / genetics
Drosophila / genetics*
Histones / genetics*
Models, Genetic
Selection, Genetic*

Substances

Codon
Histones