RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 The Population Genetics of Gene Regulatory Networks
JF bioRxiv
FD Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
SP 2021.04.11.439376
DO 10.1101/2021.04.11.439376
A1 Chia-Hung Yang
A1 Samuel V. Scarpino
YR 2021
UL http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2021/04/11/2021.04.11.439376.abstract
AB The evolution of diverse phenotypes both involves and is constrained by molecular interaction networks. When these networks influence patterns of expression, we refer to them as gene regulatory networks (GRNs). Here, we develop a population genetic model of GRN evolution. With this model, we prove that–across a broad spectrum of viability and mutation functions–the dynamics converge to a stationary distribution over GRNs. Next, we show from first principles how the frequency of GRNs at equilibrium will be proportional to each GRN’s eigenvector centrality in the genotype network. Finally, we determine the structural characteristics of GRNs that are favored in response to a range of selective environments and mutational constraints. Our work connects GRN evolution to population genetic models, and thus can provide a mechanistic explanation for the topology of GRNs experiencing various evolutionary forces.Competing Interest StatementThe authors have declared no competing interest.