02335nas a2200181   4500008004100000022004800041245007100089210006300160260009100223300000900314490000600323520166100329100001901990700001702009700001602026700001802042856009302060       2008                        eng d  a1935-2735 (Electronic); 1935-2727 (Linking)00aOn the extent and origins of genic novelty in the phylum Nematoda.0 aextent and origins of genic novelty in the phylum Nematoda  aInstitute of Evolutionary Biology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.  ae2580 v23 aBACKGROUND: The phylum Nematoda is biologically diverse, including parasites of plants and animals as well as free-living taxa. Underpinning this diversity will be commensurate diversity in expressed genes, including gene sets associated specifically with evolution of parasitism. METHODS AND FINDINGS: Here we have analyzed the extensive expressed sequence tag data (available for 37 nematode species, most of which are parasites) and define over 120,000 distinct putative genes from which we have derived robust protein translations. Combined with the complete proteomes of Caenorhabditis elegans and Caenorhabditis briggsae, these proteins have been grouped into 65,000 protein families that in turn contain 40,000 distinct protein domains. We have mapped the occurrence of domains and families across the Nematoda and compared the nematode data to that available for other phyla. Gene loss is common, and in particular we identify nearly 5,000 genes that may have been lost from the lineage leading to the model nematode C. elegans. We find a preponderance of novelty, including 56,000 nematode-restricted protein families and 26,000 nematode-restricted domains. Mapping of the latest time-of-origin of these new families and domains across the nematode phylogeny revealed ongoing evolution of novelty. A number of genes from parasitic species had signatures of horizontal transfer from their host organisms, and parasitic species had a greater proportion of novel, secreted proteins than did free-living ones. CONCLUSIONS: These classes of genes may underpin parasitic phenotypes, and thus may be targets for development of effective control measures.1 aWasmuth, James1 aSchmid, Ralf1 aHedley, Ann1 aBlaxter, Mark  uhttps://nematoda.myspecies.info/content/extent-and-origins-genic-novelty-phylum-nematoda