Abstract. De novo gene emergence refers to the process by which new genes arise from mutations in previously non-coding genomic regions. Investigating earl

Structure and disorder predictors are increasingly used as decision-grade tools in protein engineering and in the analysis of newly emerged proteins, yet how the current state-of-the-art behaves on se...

The phenotypic diversity between castes in social species has been associated with increased regulation of gene expression. while the regulatory role of transcription factors (TFs) in the social transitions of Hymenoptera (bees, ants and wasps) is well studied, it remains poorly explored in Blattodea (cockroaches and termites). By analysing three cockroach and five termite genomes, we show that while Blattodea share some convergent regulatory signatures with Hymenoptera, their transition is mostly characterised by distinct regulatory changes. We identified convergent patterns such as TF families with more relaxed selection compared to intensified selection and lineage-specific gene family expansions in termites, which has also been reported in Hymenoptera. There are also key differences in Blattodea TF regulation in comparison with Hymenoptera with contractions in TF gene families and no compensatory changes in TF DNA binding motifs either in frequency or diversity in TF promoter regions. Furthermore, we show that an increase in social complexity associates with greater diversity in TF activating domains, one of the evolutionary and structural building blocks of TFs; meanwhile, DNA-binding domains, undergo very little change. This study highlights similarities in social transitions between Hymenoptera and Blattodea, with evidence of large changes in transcriptional regulation followed by lineage specific adaptations. Our results indicate that at least in the case of Blattodea, the transcriptional diversity linked to social complexity is not attributable to transcription factors alone, but is instead likely driven in combination with alternative mechanisms.

Abstract. Parental care, a key step in the evolution of sociality, has evolved multiple times in insects, yet the molecular mechanisms underlying its emerg

Abstract. Horizontal gene transfer (HGT), the transmission of genetic material across species, is an important innovation source in prokaryotes. In contras

Characterizing the dynamics and functional shifts during protein evolution is essential, both for understanding protein evolution and for rationalizing efficient strategies for e.g. enzymes with desir...

Abstract. Subsociality and wood-eating or xylophagy are understood as key drivers in the evolution of eusociality in Blattodea (cockroaches and termites),

De novo gene evolution entails the birth of new genes from previously non-coding DNA. In this Review, Bornberg-Bauer and Eicholt overview how protein-coding de novo genes are identified, the mechanist...

De novo gene evolution entails the birth of new genes from previously non-coding DNA. In this Review, Bornberg-Bauer and Eicholt overview how protein-coding de novo genes are identified, the mechanist...

Nature Reviews Genetics - De novo gene evolution entails the birth of new genes from previously non-coding DNA. In this Review, Bornberg-Bauer and Eicholt overview how protein-coding de novo genes...

Ancestrally non-genic sequences are now widely recognized as potential reservoirs for the de novo emergence of new genes. Across clades, some de novo genes were proven to have substantial phenotypic effects, and to contribute to the emergence of novel biological functions. Yet, still very little is known about the starting material from which de novo genes emerge, especially in plants. To fill this gap, we generated Ribosome Profiling data from the closely related species Arabidopsis halleri, A. lyrata and A. thaliana and characterized genome-wide patterns of translation across them. Synteny analysis revealed 211 Open Reading Frames (ORFs) that have emerged de novo within the Arabidopsis genus and already exhibit signs of active translation. Most of these de novo translated ORFs were species- and even accession-specific, indicating their transient nature, with patterns of polymorphism consistent with neutral evolution in natural populations. They were also significantly shorter and less expressed than conserved Coding DNA Sequences (CDS), and their GC content increased with phylogenetic conservation. While most of them were located in intergenic regions and are thus newly discovered, 34 were previously annotated as CDS in at least one genome, and are promising putative genes. Our results demonstrate the abundance of translation events outside of conserved CDS, and their role as starting material for the emergence of novel genes in plants. ### Competing Interest Statement The authors have declared no competing interest. Université de Lille, https://ror.org/0546v5182

Termites, the largest lineage of non-hymenopteran social insects, are important decomposers of plant organic matter in the tropics. Here, the authors sequence the genomes of 45 termites and two cockro...

Open Positions – GEvol – DFG SPP 2349

AbstractMotivation. De novo genes emerge from previously non-coding regions of the genome, challenging the traditional view that new genes primarily arise

The Journal of Experimental Zoology – B (JEZ-B): Molecular and Developmental Evolution covers the structure & evolution of animal & non-animal organisms.

Author summary The discovery and production of safe and effective therapeutics for treating people suffering from neglected tropical diseases, such as sleeping sickness caused by the pathogen Trypanos...