Multiscale structural evolution of proline-rich protein genes shapes primate salivary defenses.

Primate salivary proline-rich protein genes exhibit dynamic structural evolution driven by gene duplications, inversions, and tandem repeats, influencing dietary adaptations.

• Why it matters: Understanding how salivary proteins evolve is crucial because they serve as the first line of defense and interface with the environment, yet their genetic evolution remains poorly understood, especially across primates.
• What they did: The study analyzed 27 primate species using genome assemblies, comparative genomics, phylogenetics, transcriptomics, and dietary data to investigate PRP gene family evolution and expression patterns.
• The result: PRP genes are highly expressed across primates, with lineage-specific regulatory shifts and repeat expansions, such as histidine-rich peptides in folivorous colobines, highlighting their role in dietary adaptation.