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The molecular evolution of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation genes in the Order Passeriformes

Fries, Anthony Charles
http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7556-1353
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1258557488

Abstract Details

2009, Master of Science, Ohio State University, Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology.
Differences in organismal life-history characteristics are often related to variation in an organisms’ energy expenditure. For example, tropical bird species show a significantly slower “pace of life” in terms of increased longevity, reduced fecundity and faster maturation when compared with temperate species and this slower pace is correlated with a reduced basal metabolic rate (BMR). Differences in BMR could have a genetic basis yet the mechanisms governing energy expenditure remain unclear. Genes encoding proteins involved in crucial energetic pathways present logical candidates to explore the role of selection as a cause of energetic differences between species. The distribution of certain bird families in both tropical and temperate environments offers a unique opportunity to study the molecular evolution of these physiological adaptations through paired comparisons of mitochondrial DNA evolution among confamilial species. Here, I explored the role of evolution of mitochondrial proteins as a genetic cause for variation in mass-organismal energy expenditure by examining the role of selection on the 13 mitochondrial genes encoding proteins involved in the oxidative phosphorylation system (OXPHOS). I sequenced the OXPHOS mitogenome of 14 species of birds from the Order Passeriformes in paired confamilial groupings from both temperate and tropical environments and analyzed the molecular evolution of these genes as well as how the amino acid differences I observed may influence life-history traits between the regional groupings. Overall, I found an overwhelming signature of purifying selection operating on these genes across each complex of the OXPHOS system. However, variation in the level of functional conservation does vary between the ND and CO OXPHOS complexes. In addition I found 26 sites with elevated dN/dS ratios that occur in functionally important regions but do not show patterns of substitutions consistent with a role in metabolic governance. Therefore, the evolutionary history of oxidative phosphorylation genes in the mitochondrial genome of passerines does not suggest that amino acid substitution patterns between confamilial species influences differences in energy expenditure and that these genes exhibit significantly high levels of purifying selection that varies between OXPHOS complex regions.
H. Lisle Gibbs, PhD (Advisor)
Joseph B. Williams, PhD (Committee Member)
Laura S. Kubatko, PhD (Committee Member)
73 p.
Biology; Genetics; Molecular Biology
Evolution; birds; mitochondria; positive selection; oxidative phosphorylation

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Fries, A. C. (2009). The molecular evolution of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation genes in the Order Passeriformes [Master's thesis, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1258557488

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Fries, Anthony. The molecular evolution of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation genes in the Order Passeriformes. 2009. Ohio State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1258557488.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Fries, Anthony. "The molecular evolution of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation genes in the Order Passeriformes." Master's thesis, Ohio State University, 2009. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1258557488

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

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© 2009, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by The Ohio State University and OhioLINK.