Independent amylase gene copy number bursts correlate with dietary preferences in mammals
Petar Pajic,
Pavlos Pavlidis,
Kirsten Dean,
Lubov Neznanova,
Rose-Anne Romano,
Danielle Garneau,
Erin Daugherity,
Anja Globig,
Stefan Ruhl,
Omer Gokcumen
Affiliations
Petar Pajic
Department of Biological Sciences, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, New York, United States; Department of Oral Biology, School of Dental Medicine, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, New York, United States
Pavlos Pavlidis
Institute of Computer Science (ICS), Foundation for Research and Technology – Hellas, Heraklion, Greece
Kirsten Dean
Department of Biological Sciences, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, New York, United States
Lubov Neznanova
Department of Oral Biology, School of Dental Medicine, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, New York, United States
Rose-Anne Romano
Department of Oral Biology, School of Dental Medicine, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, New York, United States
Danielle Garneau
Center for Earth and Environmental Science, Plattsburgh State University, New York, United States
Erin Daugherity
Cornell Center for Animal Resources and Education, Cornell University, New York, United States
Anja Globig
Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Greifswald, Germany
The amylase gene (AMY), which codes for a starch-digesting enzyme in animals, underwent several gene copy number gains in humans (Perry et al., 2007), dogs (Axelsson et al., 2013), and mice (Schibler et al., 1982), possibly along with increased starch consumption during the evolution of these species. Here, we present comprehensive evidence for AMY copy number expansions that independently occurred in several mammalian species which consume diets rich in starch. We also provide correlative evidence that AMY gene duplications may be an essential first step for amylase to be expressed in saliva. Our findings underscore the overall importance of gene copy number amplification as a flexible and fast evolutionary mechanism that can independently occur in different branches of the phylogeny.
