Back to the sea twice: identifying candidate plant genes for molecular evolution to marine life

摘要: Background: Seagrasses are a polyphyletic group of monocotyledonous angiosperms that have adapted to completely submerged lifestyle in marine waters. Here, we exploit two collections expressed sequence tags (ESTs) wide-spread and ecologically important seagrass species, the Mediterranean Posidonia oceanica (L.) Delile eelgrass Zostera marina L., which independently evolved from aquatic ancestors. This replicated, yet independent evolutionary history facilitates identification traits may parallel possible instrumental candidates for adaptation habitat. Results: In our study, provide first quantitative perspective on molecular adaptations species. By constructing orthologous gene clusters shared between seagrasses (Z. P. oceanica) eight distantly related terrestrial angiosperm 51 genes could be identified with detection positive selection along branches phylogenetic tree. Characterization these positively selected using KEGG pathways Gene Ontology uncovered mostly involved translation, metabolism, photosynthesis. Conclusions: These results insights into diverged their counterparts via an initial stage characteristic order derived fully-marine seagrasses. We discuss how adaptive changes processes contributed evolution towards existence.