Structural and functional characterization of a putative de novo gene in Drosophila

Comparative genomic studies have repeatedly shown that new protein-coding genes can
emerge de novo from non-coding DNA. Still unknown is how and when the structures of
encoded de novo proteins emerge and evolve. Combining biochemical, genetic and evolu-
tionary analyses, we elucidate the function and structure of goddard, a gene which appears
to have evolved de novo at least 50 million years ago within the Drosophila genus.
Previous studies found that goddard is required for male fertility. Here, we show that God-
dard protein localizes to elongating sperm axonemes and that in its absence, elongated
spermatids fail to undergo individualization. Combining modelling, NMR and CD data, we
show that Goddard protein contains a large central α-helix, but is otherwise partially disor-
dered. We find similar results for Goddard’s orthologs from divergent fly species and their
reconstructed ancestral sequences. Accordingly, Goddard’s structure appears to have been
maintained with only minor changes over millions of years.