Divergence of Gene Function after Duplication Events in Subfamily 1 of the NITRATE TRANSPORTER1/PEPTIDE TRANSPORTER Family of Plant Genes
Conference Year
2023
Abstract
Gene duplication is a driver of the evolution of gene function. To investigate how gene function changes after duplication, we are using two genes of the plant Medicago truncatula that are the result of a series of gene duplications: LATD/NIP and NPF1B. To test whether or not NPF1B can substitute for LATD/NIP, the protein-coding sequences and regulatory regions were swapped and transformed into a mutant of LATD/NIP. The latd mutant is defective in root and nodule development, and the addition of neither NPF1B region restored root nor nodule growth, indicating that these genes developed different functions after the duplication.
Primary Faculty Mentor Name
Jeanne Harris
Status
Graduate
Student College
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Second Student College
Graduate College
Program/Major
Plant Biology
Primary Research Category
Life Sciences
Divergence of Gene Function after Duplication Events in Subfamily 1 of the NITRATE TRANSPORTER1/PEPTIDE TRANSPORTER Family of Plant Genes
Gene duplication is a driver of the evolution of gene function. To investigate how gene function changes after duplication, we are using two genes of the plant Medicago truncatula that are the result of a series of gene duplications: LATD/NIP and NPF1B. To test whether or not NPF1B can substitute for LATD/NIP, the protein-coding sequences and regulatory regions were swapped and transformed into a mutant of LATD/NIP. The latd mutant is defective in root and nodule development, and the addition of neither NPF1B region restored root nor nodule growth, indicating that these genes developed different functions after the duplication.