Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “diverged evolution”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 613 records · Page 34Linked to original sources

Imprint of evolutionary conservation and protein structure variation on the binding function of protein tyrosine kinases.

MOTIVATION: According to the models of divergent molecular evolution, the evolvability of new protein function may depend on the induction of new phenotypic traits by a small number of mutations of the binding site residues. Evolutionary relationships between protein kinases are often employed to infer inhibitor binding profiles from sequence analysis. However, protein kinases binding profiles may display inhibitor selectivity within a given kinase subfamily, while exhibiting cross-activity between kinases that are phylogenetically remote from the prime target. The emerging insights into kinase function and evolution combined with a rapidly growing number of publically available crystal structures of protein kinases complexes have motivated structural bioinformatics analysis of sequence-structure relationships in determining the binding function of protein tyrosine kinases. RESULTS: In silico profiling of Imatinib mesylate and PD-173955 kinase inhibitors with protein tyrosine kinases is conducted on kinome scale by using evolutionary analysis and fingerprinting inhibitor-protein interactions with the panel of all publically available protein tyrosine kinases crystal structures. We have found that sequence plasticity of the binding site residues alone may not be sufficient to enable protein tyrosine kinases to readily evolve novel binding activities with inhibitors. While evolutionary signal derived solely from the tyrosine kinase sequence conservation can not be readily translated into the ligand binding phenotype, the proposed structural bioinformatics analysis can discriminate a functionally relevant kinase binding signal from a simple phylogenetic relationship. The results of this work reveal that protein conformational diversity is intimately linked with sequence plasticity of the binding site residues in achieving functional adaptability of protein kinases towards specific drug binding. This study offers a plausible molecular rationale to the experimental binding profiles of the studied kinase inhibitors and provides a theoretical basis for constructing functionally relevant kinase binding trees.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Importin beta, transportin, RanBP5 and RanBP7 mediate nuclear import of ribosomal proteins in mammalian cells.

The assembly of eukaryotic ribosomal subunits takes place in the nucleolus and requires nuclear import of ribosomal proteins. We have studied this import in a mammalian system and found that the classical nuclear import pathway using the importin alpha/beta heterodimer apparently plays only a minor role. Instead, at least four importin beta-like transport receptors, namely importin beta itself, transportin, RanBP5 and RanBP7, directly bind and import ribosomal proteins. We found that the ribosomal proteins L23a, S7 and L5 can each be imported alternatively by any of the four receptors. We have studied rpL23a in detail and identified a very basic region to which each of the four import receptors bind avidly. This domain might be considered as an archetypal import signal that evolved before import receptors diverged in evolution. The presence of distinct binding sites for rpL23a and the M9 import signal in transportin, and for rpL23a and importin alpha in importin beta might explain how a single receptor can recognize very different import signals.

Animals↗

Characterization of a cluster of sulfatase genes on Xp22.3 suggests gene duplications in an ancestral pseudoautosomal region.

An obligatory crossing-over event between the X and Y chromosomes in mammals occurs at each male meiosis within the 2.6 Mb of DNA defining the pseudoautosomal region (PAR). Genes located within or near the human PAR have homologous copies on the X and Y chromosomes, escape X inactivation and appear to be highly divergent throughout evolution. We have characterized the genomic structure of two genes from a recently identified cluster of sulfatase genes (ARSD and ARSE) located in the Xp22.3 region, and of their homologs on the Y chromosome. Our results indicate that the ARSD and ARSE genes from within this cluster have a conserved genomic organization, shared also by another Xp22.3 gene, STS, but completely different from that of all the other sulfatase genes. Sequence analysis of the Y-linked homologs indicate that they represent truncated pseudogenes. Sequence identity values between the X and Y copies of each gene is on average 91%, significantly higher than the values obtained by comparing different members of the family. FISH mapping experiments performed in several primate species revealed an identical localization of the X-linked copies to that in man, but different localizations of the Y homologs. Together, our data indicate that the cluster of sulfatase genes on human Xp22.3 was created through duplication events which probably occurred in an ancestral PAR, and support the view that the PAR has undergone multiple changes during recent mammalian evolution.

Animals↗

Molecular cloning and functional analysis of a human cDNA encoding an Escherichia coli AlkB homolog, a protein involved in DNA alkylation damage repair.

The Escherichia coli AlkB protein is involved in protecting cells against mutation and cell death induced specifically by SN2-type alkylating agents such as methyl methanesulfonate (MMS). A human cDNA encoding a polypeptide homologous to E.coli AlkB was discovered by searching a database of expressed sequence tags (ESTs) derived from high throughput cDNA sequencing. The full-length human AlkB homolog (hABH) cDNA clone contains a 924 bp open reading frame encoding a 34 kDa protein which is 52% similar and 23% identical to E.coli AlkB. The hABH gene, which maps to chromosome 14q24, was ubiquitously expressed in 16 human tissues examined. When hABH was expressed in E.coli alkB mutant cells partial rescue of the cells from MMS-induced cell death occurred. Under the conditions used expression of hABH in skin fibroblasts was not regulated by treatment with MMS. Our findings show that the AlkB protein is structurally and functionally conserved from bacteria to human, but its regulation may have diverged during evolution.

AlkB Homolog 1, Histone H2a Dioxygenase↗

Conservation and divergence of NF-Y transcriptional activation function.

The CCAAT-binding protein NF-Y is involved in the regulation of a variety of eukaryotic genes and is formed in higher eukaryotes by three subunits NF-YA/B/C. We have characterized NF-Y of the trematode parasite Schistosoma mansoni and studied the structure and the function of the SMNF-YA subunit. In this work, we present the cloning and sequence analysis of the B subunit of the parasite factor. SMNF-YB contains the conserved HAP-3 homology domain but the remaining part of the protein was found to be highly divergent from all other species. We demonstrated by transfections of GAL4 fusion constructs, that mouse NF-YB does not contain activation domains while the C-terminal part of SMNF-YB has transcriptional activation potential. On the other hand, the N-terminal parts of SMNF-YA and mouse NF-YA were shown to mediate transactivation; the integrity of a large 160 amino acid glutamine-rich domain of NF-YA was required for this function and an adjacent serine- and threonine-rich domain was necessary for full activity in HepG2, but redundant in other cell types. Transactivation domains identified in SMNF-YB are also rich in serine and threonine residues. Our results indicate that serine/threonine-richsequences from helminth parasites potentiate trans-cription and that such structures have diverged during evolution within the same transcription factor.

3T3 Cells↗

GenDiS: Genomic Distribution of protein structural domain Superfamilies.

Several proteins that have substantially diverged during evolution retain similar three-dimensional structures and biological function inspite of poor sequence identity. The database on Genomic Distribution of protein structural domain Superfamilies (GenDiS) provides record for the distribution of 4001 protein domains organized as 1194 structural superfamilies across 18,997 genomes at various levels of hierarchy in taxonomy. GenDiS database provides a survey of protein domains enlisted in sequence databases employing a 3-fold sequence search approach. Lineage-specific literature is obtained from the taxonomy database for individual protein members to provide a platform for performing genomic and phyletic studies across organisms. The database documents residual properties and provides alignments for the various superfamily members in genomes, offering insights into the rational design of experiments and for the better understanding of a superfamily. GenDiS database can be accessed at http://www.ncbs.res.in/~faculty/mini/gendis/home.html.

Databases, Protein↗

Structural and functional analysis of insulin-like growth factors.

The insulin and insulin-like growth factor family of peptides are proteins with similar structural characteristics whose functions have diverged during evolution. Recent studies have provided a great deal of information regarding structural characteristics of these peptides, the structures of the genes that control their biosynthesis, and determination of their receptor structures. Initially these factors were believed to function as classical hormones and the endocrine regulation of their blood concentrations was studied intensively. More recently several cell types have been shown to secrete these peptides and the autocrine and paracrine regulation of insulin-like growth factor secretion by cells and tissues has received extensive characterization. Following secretion into interstitial fluids the IGF's associate with high affinity, soluble binding proteins. These proteins are capable of modulating receptor binding and growth factor biological activity. The structure of these proteins and the variables that control their secretion are currently being determined. In spite of this information significant gaps in our knowledge exist regarding the mechanisms by which these peptides stimulate replication.

Animals↗

Molecular cloning of cDNAs for rat proteasomes: deduced primary structures of four other subunits.

Proteasomes (multi-protease complexes) are composed of approximately 15 non-identical subunits of similar sizes (molecular weight = 21-32 kDa), but different charges (isoelectric point = 4-9). Previously, we deduced the primary structures of 6 subunits of rat proteasomes by recombinant DNA techniques. In this paper we report the nucleotide sequences of 4 other subunits, rIOTA, rZETA, rDELTA, and rRING12, determined from cDNA clones isolated by screening a rat H4TG hepatoma cell cDNA library with the cDNAs of their human counterparts as probes. The polypeptides deduced from their nucleotide sequences consisted of 246, 241, 202, and 219 amino acid residues with calculated molecular weights of 27,399, 26,391, 21,649, and 23,324, and calculated isoelectric points of 6.37, 4.65, 4.84, and 4.70, respectively. These results and previous findings indicate that the primary structures of the subunits of rat proteasomes show considerably high inter-subunit homology, but can be classified into apparently distinct sub-groups, suggesting that rat proteasome genes form a multi-gene family with the same evolutionary origin, but have diverged during evolution to acquire possibly subunit-specific functions.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The divergence-homogenization duality in the evolution of the b1 mating type gene of Coprinus cinereus.

The A mating type locus of the fungus Coprinus cinereus is a complex, multigenic locus which regulates compatibility and subsequent sexual development. Genes within the A locus such as the b1 gene studied here exhibit extreme sequence variation. In this work, we asked how b1 alleles have evolved high levels of variation and, at the same time, conserved function. We compared sequence variation in 17 alleles characterized as belonging to seven different compatibility classes. Comparison of sequence variation between representatives of these seven classes shows that different regions of the b1 gene have been subject to varying levels of substitution, recombination, and structural/functional constraints. The N-terminal region of the encoded protein, which has been previously demonstrated to govern self/nonself recognition, exhibited hypervariability with levels of amino acid identity as low as 41%. We used a novel analysis of neutral mutations accumulating in this gene to rule out the possibility that the N-terminal region is hypermutable. In contrast, the C-terminal region displayed heterogeneous levels of variation, with functional motifs being better conserved. In fact, there is a duality in the b1 gene between variability and conservation; recombination events have homogenized the C-terminal region, while recombination events are undetectable in the N-terminal region. The ability to regulate sexual development is maintained in all of the mating compatibility alleles studied, and these data suggest that some functional motifs may tolerate high levels of substitution.

Alleles↗

Characterization of repetitive DNA regions and methylated DNA in ascovirus genomes.

The accompanying phylogenetic study of large double-stranded DNA viruses based on their delta DNA polymerase genes suggests that ascoviruses (family ASCOVIRIDAE:) and iridoviruses (family IRIDOVIRIDAE:) are closely related and may share a common ancestor. This relationship was unexpected because of marked differences between these viruses. Iridoviruses produce icosahedral virions and occur broadly among vertebrates and invertebrates, whereas ascoviruses typically produce reniform or bacilliform virions and are restricted to insect hosts, primarily lepidopterans. Detailed comparisons of these two virus types are not possible because fundamental information on the properties of the virions and their genomes is lacking, especially for ascoviruses. To facilitate further investigation of the putative evolutionary relationship between ascoviruses and iridoviruses, the genomes of representative viruses from each family were compared with respect to physical configuration, presence of DNA repeats and degree of DNA methylation. Genomes from Spodoptera frugiperda (SfAV1), Heliothis virescens (HvAV3) and Diadromus pulchellus (DpAV4) ascoviruses were all found to be circular and partially superhelical and to contain large interspersed repeats of 1-3 kbp. Mosquito (IV type 3), lepidopteran (IV type 6) and isopod (IV type 31) iridovirus genomes were all linear and lacked large regions of repetitive DNA. Ascovirus and iridovirus genomes were methylated and one, DpAV4, had the highest degree of methylation of any reported animal DNA virus. The major differences in the physical and biochemical characteristics of ascoviruses and iridoviruses reported here provide a foundation for further studies of their relatedness while making their possible close relationship and divergence during evolution of even greater interest.

Animals↗

Biological distribution and physiological role of the beta-ketoadipate transport system.

beta-Ketoadipate induces catabolic enzymes in Pseudomonas putida. The compound is transported by a system which also concentrates adipate, a non-metabolizable analogue of beta-ketoadipate. The natural substrate, beta-ketoadipate, competitively inhibits adipate transport with a K1 of 0.04 mM, lower than the Km of 0.23 mM observed with adipate. Transport is inhibited competitively by succinate (K1 1.3 mM) and non-competitively by acetate (K1 5.3 mM). The system has a sharp pH optimum at 5.5. Transport activity is stimulated by a variety of ions, and salt concentrations in excess of 0.1 M are required to achieve optimal rates of influx. The transport system is inhibited by proton conductors and thiol reagents. Membrane vesicle preparations concentrate adipate when supplied with an oxidizable energy source. Induction of the transport system does not allow the rapid utilization of exogenous beta-ketoadipate. Nevertheless, the system has been conserved in the evolution of divergent Pseudomonas species. The selective value of the beta-ketoadipate transport system may lie in its apparent function in chemotaxis and in its ability to control intracellular concentrations of the inducing metabolite, beta-ketoadipate.

Acetates↗

Evidence of rotavirus intragenic recombination between two sublineages of the same genotype.

Rotavirus G4 prevalence increased during the past decade, with one of the highest prevalences reported during rotavirus surveillance in Argentina. Intragenotype diversity analysis has led to its subdivision into lineages (I and II) and sublineages (Ia-Id). On analysis of Argentine and G4 VP7 sequences from other locations, one Argentine strain (ArgRes1723) appeared to be an intermediate between G4 sublineages Ib and Ic. Similarity and bootscanning analyses and Sawyer's test were carried out to demonstrate the recombinant nature of this strain. It was concluded that intragenic recombination occurred between sequences of sublineages Ib and Ic, with a crossover point between nucleotide positions 336 and 387. This study constitutes the first report of a mechanism of evolution in rotaviruses that is currently considered unusual - a recombination event between two strains of the same rotavirus genotype. These results will help increase current knowledge about rotavirus evolution and divergence, improving our understanding of the adaptation mechanisms used by these viruses.

Genotype↗

Cardiovirus leader proteins are functionally interchangeable and have evolved to adapt to virus replication fitness.

The leader (L) proteins encoded by picornaviruses of the genus Cardiovirus [Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus (TMEV) and Encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV)] are small proteins thought to exert important functions in virus-host interactions. The L protein of persistent TMEV strains was shown to be dispensable for virus replication in vitro, but crucial for long-term persistence of the virus in the central nervous system of the mouse. The phenotype of chimeric viruses generated by exchanging the L-coding regions was analysed and it was shown that the L proteins of neurovirulent and persistent TMEV strains are functionally interchangeable in vitro and in vivo, despite the fact that L is the second most divergent protein encoded by these viruses after the L* protein. The L protein encoded by EMCV and Mengo virus (an EMCV strain) shares about 35 % amino acid identity with that of TMEV. It differs from the latter by lacking a serine/threonine-rich C-terminal domain and by carrying phosphorylated residues not conserved in the TMEV L protein. Our data show that, in spite of these differences, the L protein of Mengo virus shares, with that of TMEV, the ability to inhibit the transcription of type I interferon, cytokine and chemokine genes and to interfere with nucleocytoplasmic trafficking of host-cell proteins. Interestingly, analysis of viral RNA replication of the recombinant viruses raised the hypothesis that L proteins of TMEV and EMCV diverged during evolution to adapt to the different replication fitness of these viruses.

Adaptation, Physiological↗

Capturing whole-genome characteristics in short sequences using a naïve Bayesian classifier.

Bacterial genomes have diverged during evolution, resulting in clearcut differences in their nucleotide composition, such as their GC content. The analysis of complete sequences of bacterial genomes also reveals the presence of nonrandom sequence variation, manifest in the frequency profile of specific short oligonucleotides. These frequency profiles constitute highly specific genomic signatures. Based on these differences in oligonucleotide frequency between bacterial genomes, we investigated the possibility of predicting the genome of origin for a specific genomic sequence. To this end, we developed a naïve Bayesian classifier and systematically analyzed 28 eubacterial and archaeal genomes. We found that sequences as short as 400 bases could be correctly classified with an accuracy of 85%. We then applied the classifier to the identification of horizontal gene transfer events in whole-genome sequences and demonstrated the validity of our approach by correctly predicting the transfer of both the superoxide dismutase (sodC) and the bioC gene from Haemophilus influenzae to Neisseria meningitis, correctly identifying both the donor and recipient species. We believe that this classification methodology could be a valuable tool in biodiversity studies.

Archaea↗

Posttranscriptional regulation of ferritin during nodule development in soybean.

During soybean (Glycine max) nodule development, induced ferritin mRNA concentration remains elevated while the protein concentration decreases 4- to 5-fold (M. Ragland and E.C. Theil [1993] Plant Mol Biol 21: 555-560). Investigation of posttranscriptional regulation of nodule ferritin during development showed that ferritin mRNA was efficiently translated based on polyribosome size in vivo, protein synthesis (0.8% of total protein) in vitro, and protein synthesis in intact nodules. Ferritin, a plastid protein, was processed in both immature and mature nodules. In chimeric mRNA, soybean ferritin mRNA sequences blocked the function of the iron regulatory element (IRE), the cis regulatory element of animal ferritin mRNA; the IRE regulates chimeric animal mRNAs. The absence of translational regulation of ferritin in plants contrasts with ferritin regulation in animals. Thus, ferritin regulation has diverged during evolution, whereas structure of the mature protein has been conserved. Ferritin in mature soybean nodules is apparently regulated after translation, possibly in analogy with such plastid proteins as chlorophyll-binding proteins D1, CP43, LHCI, and LHCII, the small subunit of ribulose-bisphosphate carboxylase, and apoplastocyanin. An autocatalytic mechanism observed in vivo for degradation of plastid protein D1 and in vitro for pea ferritin during iron release could explain the ferritin decreases in mature nodules.

Animals↗

EMBRYONIC FACTOR 1 encodes an AMP deaminase and is essential for the zygote to embryo transition in Arabidopsis.

Fusion of the egg and the sperm cells in plants produces a zygote that develops into an embryo. Screening of ethyl methanesulfonate-mutagenized populations of Arabidopsis led to the identification of EMBRYONIC FACTOR 1 (FAC1), a locus that gives a zygote-lethal phenotype when mutated. The FAC1 gene was identified by positional cloning and confirmed by a genetic complementation test against a T-DNA insertion allele. It encodes an AMP deaminase (AMPD) that is known in human and yeast to convert AMP to IMP to maintain the energy potential. Expression of FAC1 in a yeast AMPD mutant after removal of its N-terminal putative transmembrane domain complemented the mutant phenotype, suggesting a functional conservancy but a structural divergence through evolution. Although a low level of FAC1 expression was observed in all organs tested, using a reporter construct we observed a significantly increased FAC1 expression in the zygote, early embryo and endosperm. Furthermore, during somatic embryogenesis, a high level of FAC1 expression was observed in developing embryos including putative embryogenic cells. FAC1, therefore, represents one of the earliest expressed genes known in plants. It may act through AMP depletion to provide sufficient energy for the zygote to proceed through development.

AMP Deaminase↗

An additional promoter functions in the human aldolase A gene, but not in rat.

The aldolase A gene was isolated from a human DNA library, mapped and sequenced. This gene comprises 12 exons and spans 6.5 kb. From the genomic DNA sequence and from the previous sequence analysis of the cDNA, it was revealed that the first exon L1 and the second exon encode the 5' non-coding sequence of mRNA L1, while the third and forth exons (corresponding to exons M and L2) encode different mRNA, mRNA M and L2, respectively; the following eight exons (exons 5-12) are shared commonly by all the mRNA species. These results indicate that the mRNA species are generated from a single aldolase A gene from one of exons L1, M or L2, in addition to exons 5-12, and also that the usage of a leader exon is similar but clearly distinct from that of rat aldolase A gene which we analyzed [Joh, K., Arai, Y., Mukai, T. & Hori, K. (1986) J. Mol. Biol. 190, 401-410]. By comparing the promoter regions in the human and rat aldolase A genes, we found similar sequences in the rat genome corresponding to those of the human L1, M and L2 promoter. We could not, however, detect any transcripts starting from sequences corresponding to the human L1 promoter in the rat genome, although the products corresponding to human M and L2 were detected. Thus, we conclude that the L1 promoter was either acquired by the human genome or deleted from the rat genome after human and rat diverged during evolution.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Evolution of ruminant hemoglobins. Thermodynamic divergence of ox and buffalo hemoglobins.

The ligand-binding properties of hemoglobins from two homozygote phenotypes (AA and BB) of water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) have been characterized by equilibrium and kinetic techniques. In the case of the BB phenotype, the two constituent hemoglobins have been purified and separately analysed. Buffalo hemoglobins display the reduced sensitivity to organic phosphates characteristic of ruminant hemoglobins, their physiological effector probably being the chloride ion. In contrast to the other known hemoglobins from ruminants, all the hemoglobins from the water buffalo display a significant temperature sensitivity, the delta H for oxygen binding in the presence of physiological effectors approaching that of human hemoglobin (delta H = -30.5 kJ/mol O2). This discrepancy with the other ruminant hemoglobins (e.g. ox, delta H = -10.4 kJ/mol O2), whose primary structure is very similar to that of buffalo, hemoglobins might be correlated to the different habitat and phylogenetic history of the two subfamilies (Bos and Bubalus) of Bovidae.

Animals↗