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PMID: 16546082 Published · ppublish English Journal Article Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Natural selection drives extremely rapid evolution in antiviral RNAi genes.

Current biology : CB ·Vol. 16 ·No. 6 ·2006-03-21 ·Pages 580-5

Obbard DJ, Jiggins FM, Halligan DL, Little TJ

Abstract

RNA interference (RNAi) is perhaps best known as a laboratory tool. However, RNAi-related pathways represent an antiviral component of innate immunity in both plants and animals. Since viruses can protect themselves by suppressing RNAi, interaction between RNA viruses and host RNAi may represent an ancient coevolutionary "arms race." This could lead to strong directional selection on RNAi genes, but to date their evolution has not been studied. By comparing DNA sequences from different species of Drosophila, we show that the rate of amino acid evolution is substantially elevated in genes related to antiviral RNAi function (Dcr2, R2D2, and Ago2). They are among the fastest evolving 3% of all Drosophila genes; they evolve significantly faster than other components of innate immunity and faster than paralogous genes that mediate "housekeeping" functions. Based on DNA polymorphism data from three species of Drosophila, McDonald-Kreitman tests showed that this rapid evolution is due to strong positive selection. Furthermore, Dcr2 and Ago2 display reduced genetic diversity, indicative of a recent selective sweep in both genes. Together, these data show rapid adaptive evolution of the antiviral RNAi pathway in Drosophila. This is a signature of host-pathogen arms races and implies that the ancient battle between RNA viruses and host antiviral RNAi genes is active and significant in shaping RNAi function.

MeSH Terms

Amino Acid Sequence Animals Conserved Sequence Drosophila/genetics,virology Evolution, Molecular Genes, Insect Immunity, Innate/genetics MicroRNAs/metabolism Molecular Sequence Data Polymorphism, Genetic RNA Interference RNA Viruses/physiology RNA, Small Interfering/metabolism Selection, Genetic

Chemicals

MicroRNAs RNA, Small Interfering

Authors & Affiliations

4 authors, click to expand affiliations / ORCID

Obbard Darren J

Institute of Evolutionary Biology, University of Edinburgh, Kings Buildings, West Mains Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JT, United Kingdom. [email protected]

Jiggins Francis M

Halligan Daniel L

Little Tom J

Article Info

Journal

Current biology : CB

Abbr.

Curr Biol

ISSN

0960-9822

DOI

10.1016/j.cub.2006.01.065

[email protected]

Published

2006-03-21

Pages

580-5

Language

English

Region

England

NLM ID

9107782

Subset

Grants

Wellcome Trust · 070535 · United Kingdom

Wellcome Trust · 073210 · United Kingdom

Wellcome Trust · 079235 · United Kingdom

Databases

GENBANK

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External Links

PubMed source DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2006.01.065 View journal details

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Natural selection drives extremely rapid evolution in antiviral RNAi genes.

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