Affiliation:
1. Kovalevsky Institute of Biology of the Southern Seas, Russian Academy of Sciences
Abstract
AqE gene encodes a sulfolactate dehydrogenase-like enzyme of the LDH2/MDG2 oxidoreductase family. The gene was found in representatives of taxa of bacteria and fungi, as well as animals and plants whose lifestyle is associated with the aquatic environment. The AqE gene is also present in arthropods and, in particular, in the class of insects that are predominantly terrestrial. In our work, we studied the distribution and structure of the AqE gene in the class of insects in order to trace its evolutionary fate. We found that the studied gene is not present in all orders/suborders of insects, there is a loss of the gene. In some orders, it is duplicated or multiplied. The variability of the gene both in length and in exon-intron structure was established ‒ from intronless to multi-intron. It was found that the multiplication of the AqE gene of insects has an ancient nature, but there are also “young” duplications. It is possible that in connection with the appearance of paralogs, the gene acquired a new function.
Publisher
The Russian Academy of Sciences