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Use of molecular beacons to verify that the serine hydroxymethyltransferase pseudogene SHMT-ps1 is unique to the order Primates

Eric J Devor

Author Affiliations

Molecular Genetics and Bioinformatics, Integrated DNA Technologies, Inc., 1710 Commercial Park, Coralville, IA 52241, USA

Genome Biology 2001, 2:research0006-research0006.5 doi:10.1186/gb-2001-2-2-research0006

Published: 29 January 2001

Abstract

Background

The serine hydroxymethyltransferase processed pseudogene SHMT-ps1 has been suggested to be unique to the order Primates because of the failure to amplify this sequence by PCR from genomic DNAs of any non-primate mammal species. Here, 'molecular beacon' probes specific to SHMT-ps1 were used in an attempt to verify this suggestion.

Results

In a search for SHMT-ps1-specific sequences using molecular beacons across a range of mammalian species, SHMT-ps1 was only found in primates. The molecular beacon assays also showed that SHMT-ps1 is present in both Old World and New World species but not among prosimians.

Conclusions

These results suggest that SHMT-ps1 originated close to the origin of the Anthropoidea, some 40 to 50 million years ago.