Publications by authors named "David A de la Cerda"
Layered evolution of gene expression in "superfast" muscles for courtship.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A
April 2022
Article Synopsis
- The study investigates the molecular evolution of complex traits, specifically focusing on the courtship displays of Central and South American manakin birds, which use specialized muscles to create a snapping sound to attract mates.
- Researchers utilized an empirical approach to explore specific gene expression changes in the muscles responsible for these displays, revealing that these adaptations involve multiple molecular processes related to muscle performance, such as calcium handling and hormone action.
- The findings suggest that the evolution of these traits is a gradual process, with ancestral genetic changes paving the way for later species-specific adaptations, highlighting the effectiveness of combining gene expression analysis with phylogenetic modeling to understand the evolution of complex traits.
In eukaryotes, heterochromatin plays a critical role in organismal development and cell fate acquisition, through regulating gene expression. The evolutionarily conserved lysine-specific demethylases, Lsd1 and Lsd2, remove mono- and dimethylation on histone H3, serving complex roles in gene expression. In the fission yeast , null mutations of Lsd1 and Lsd2 result in either severe growth defects or inviability, while catalytic inactivation causes minimal defects, indicating that Lsd1 and Lsd2 have essential functions beyond their known demethylase activity.
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