Evolution of the tandem repeats in thymidylate synthase enhancer region (TSER) in primates

摘要: The upstream regulatory region of the human thymidylate synthase gene (thymidylate enhancer region, TSER) is length polymorphic, attributable to variable numbers tandemly repeated copies a 28-bp fragment. It has been found that TSER polymorphism correlated malignancy risk. To further our understanding origin and evolution TSER, this was investigated among different primates, including hominoids, two subfamilies Old World monkeys (OWMs): colobines cercopithecines, species New (NWMs). In addition humans, results show in also present some primate populations, although it appears monomorphic many other primates. We identified three unique repeat motifs defined them as R1, R2, R3, respectively, starting from 3' end. same are more similar each than within are. Such paraphyletic pattern suggests divergence predated OWMs/hominoids NWMs. most recent common ancestor (MRCA) hominoids OWMs probably possessed triple repeats but now double dominant types OWMs. addition, may be lost independently. have clues recombination involved formation tandem TSER.