Different Functions of Orthologous Transcription Factors in Bacteria
Author Information
Author(s): Price Morgan N, Dehal Paramvir S, Arkin Adam P
Primary Institution: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Hypothesis
Are putative orthologs of transcription factors in bacteria evolutionary orthologs with conserved functions?
Conclusion
The study concludes that many orthologous transcription factors in bacteria do not have conserved functions and regulate different genes.
Supporting Evidence
- BBHs of transcription factors from distantly related bacteria are usually not evolutionary orthologs.
- Regulatory relationships between transcription factors and their regulated genes are often not conserved.
- Even closely related bacteria show high error rates in predicting regulation from E. coli BBHs.
Takeaway
Scientists looked at similar proteins in different bacteria and found that they often do different jobs, even if they look alike.
Methodology
The study analyzed bidirectional best BLAST hits (BBHs) of transcription factors between E. coli and other bacteria, examining their evolutionary relationships and regulatory functions.
Potential Biases
Potential biases in ortholog assignment due to horizontal gene transfer and gene duplication events.
Limitations
The study primarily focuses on a limited number of transcription factors and may not represent all bacterial regulatory networks.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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