How GLUD2 Evolved to Target Mitochondria in Humans and Apes
Author Information
Author(s): Rosso Lia, Marques Ana C., Reichert Andreas S., Kaessmann Henrik
Primary Institution: Center for Integrative Genomics, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
Hypothesis
Did GLUD2 evolve enhanced mitochondrial targeting due to positive selection?
Conclusion
The study shows that a single amino acid change in GLUD2 enhanced its mitochondrial targeting, likely contributing to its functional adaptation in the hominoid brain.
Supporting Evidence
- GLUD2 evolved a specific mitochondrial targeting sequence due to positive selection.
- The E7K substitution in GLUD2 significantly increased its mitochondrial localization capacity.
- GLUD1 retains a less specific localization pattern compared to GLUD2.
Takeaway
Scientists found that a small change in a protein helped it work better in the mitochondria, which are like the power plants of our cells, especially in the brains of humans and apes.
Methodology
The study used evolutionary analysis and experiments with ancestral protein variants to assess mitochondrial targeting.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<10−3
Statistical Significance
p<0.01
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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