Abstract
Comparisons of the genomes of Neandertals and Denisovans with present-day human genomes have suggested that the gene RUNX2, which encodes a transcription factor, may have been positively selected during early human evolution. Here, we overexpress RUNX2 in ten human cell lines and identify genes that are directly or indirectly affected by RUNX2 expression. We find a number of genes not previously known to be affected by RUNX2 expression, in particular BIRC3, genes encoded on the mitochondrial genome, and several genes involved in bone and tooth formation. These genes are likely to provide inroads into pathways affected by RUNX2 and potentially by the evolutionary changes that affected RUNX2 in modern humans.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Baculoviral IAP Repeat-Containing 3 Protein
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Core Binding Factor Alpha 1 Subunit / genetics
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Core Binding Factor Alpha 1 Subunit / metabolism*
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Evolution, Molecular
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Gene Expression Profiling
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Gene Expression Regulation / physiology*
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Genes, Mitochondrial / physiology
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Genome, Mitochondrial / physiology
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HeLa Cells
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Hep G2 Cells
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Humans
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Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins / biosynthesis
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Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins / genetics
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Osteogenesis / physiology
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Tooth / metabolism
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Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases
Substances
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Core Binding Factor Alpha 1 Subunit
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Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins
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RUNX2 protein, human
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BIRC3 protein, human
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Baculoviral IAP Repeat-Containing 3 Protein
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Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases
Grants and funding
This study was funded by the Max Planck Society. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.