Department of Botany and Plant Biology, University of Geneva, Quai Ernest-Ansermet 30, CH-1211 Geneva 4, Switzerland.
Biotechnology Department, Corporate R&D Division, FIRMENICH SA, 1211 Geneva 4, Switzerland.
Trends Plant Sci. 2014 Jul;19(7):447-59. doi: 10.1016/j.tplants.2014.01.013. Epub 2014 Feb 27.
Gene clusters are common features of prokaryotic genomes also present in eukaryotes. Most clustered genes known are involved in the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites. Although horizontal gene transfer is a primary source of prokaryotic gene cluster (operon) formation and has been reported to occur in eukaryotes, the predominant source of cluster formation in eukaryotes appears to arise de novo or through gene duplication followed by neo- and sub-functionalization or translocation. Here we aim to provide an overview of the current knowledge and open questions related to plant gene cluster functioning, assembly, and regulation. We also present potential research approaches and point out the benefits of a better understanding of gene clusters in plants for both fundamental and applied plant science.
基因簇是原核生物基因组的常见特征,也存在于真核生物中。大多数已知的聚类基因参与次生代谢物的生物合成。尽管水平基因转移是原核生物基因簇(操纵子)形成的主要来源,并且已经在真核生物中报道过,但真核生物中聚类形成的主要来源似乎是从头开始或通过基因复制,然后是新功能和亚功能化或易位。在这里,我们旨在提供一个概述与植物基因簇功能、组装和调控相关的当前知识和开放性问题。我们还提出了潜在的研究方法,并指出了更好地理解植物基因簇对基础和应用植物科学的益处。