Evolution of Tryptophan Synthase in Archaea
Author Information
Author(s): Rainer Merkl
Primary Institution: Institut für Biophysik und Physikalische Biochemie, Universität Regensburg
Hypothesis
What is the evolutionary relationship of trpB1 and trpB2, and how did extant archeal trp operons evolve?
Conclusion
Archeal trp genes may serve as a model system for studying the evolution of protein-protein interactions and operon formation.
Supporting Evidence
- Phylogenetic trees indicated that TrpB sequences constitute four distinct groups.
- TrpB2 represents the predecessor of the modern trpB gene.
- Several stages of TrpA/TrpB cooperation were identified.
Takeaway
This study looks at how certain genes that help make tryptophan have changed over time in different microorganisms, showing that some versions of these genes are older than others.
Methodology
Phylogenetic trees were constructed for all trp genes, and their structure was assessed via bootstrapping.
Limitations
The evolution of each element of the trp operon has to be examined separately due to inconsistencies in phylogenetic comparisons.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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