Evolução molecular adaptativa dos genes da família LDH em teleósteos

Abstract

The L-Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH) is an enzyme key in the processes of anaerobic glycolytic metabolism and has three encoders genes in fish (LDH-A, LDH-B and LDH-C). The regulation of these genes is independent and has tissue specificity in vertebrates. They were originated by successive events of genome replication and its evolution showed be closely related to the development of adaptive thermal mechanisms and, also different physiological conditions as hypoxia. The main objectives of this study were understand the evolution of these genes in fish, basal group of the vertebrates, and identify specific replacements that may be considered adaptive to Amazon fish species and other parts of the world (temperate, subtropical and polar). Our results showed that the genes A and B originate from a genetic duplication event that occurred near the origin of vertebrates, and that in a second duplication event, the LDH-C gene was originated from the LDH-B. Thus, the LDH of the lamprey was identified as LDH-A, and from this gene had the differentiation in teleost. In addition, our study showed that LDH-A presents sites and lineages that have gone through or are still undergoing of the adaptive evolution (Amazonian and cold weather fish). In the same time their phylogeny combined with the time difference, pointed a later specialization of this gene as a result of the adaptation to the environment. The course of evolution for these genes appears to have resulted in the influence of natural selection with variants adapted to their environment and its functions.