The intriguing realm of porifera, known as sponges, beckons exploration in molecular biology. As among the most primitive multicellular organisms, sponges provide crucial insights into fundamental cellular processes. We have recently identified in freshwater sponges the rqua gene which is responsible for anaerobic metabolism in protists and bacteria. In protists and bacteria, rqua functions in modifying ubiquinone (UB) to a different form, RQ (rhodoquinone) with a lower redox potential, facilitating anaerobic respiration. Several genes are involved in ubiquinone biosynthesis and our recent bioinformatic analyses revealed that not all of them are present in sponges with significant variation across different porifera taxa.
This project aims to estimate the ratio of non-synonymous to synonymous substitutions (dN/dS) utilizing the PAML framework in an effort to unravel the selective pressures sculpting the molecular landscape of ubiquinone biosynthesis genes in sponges, contributing to a deeper understanding of their evolutionary strategies. Neutral evolution is anticipated when genes become redundant, while purifying selection safeguards essential amino acid sequences. Conversely, positive selection may indicate adaptive evolution, potentially occurring when repurposing genes for alternative functions.
MSc project 30-60 cr
Contact: Courtney Stairs