Local Comparison of Protein Structures and Convergent Evolution
Author Information
Author(s): Ausiello Gabriele, Peluso Daniele, Via Allegra, Helmer-Citterich Manuela
Primary Institution: Centre for Molecular Bioinformatics, Department of Biology, University of Rome 'Tor Vergata'
Hypothesis
Can local structural similarities in protein functional sites reveal cases of convergent evolution?
Conclusion
The study found a novel case of convergent evolution between the ABC transporter and HprK/P families, suggesting new experimental avenues for understanding these proteins.
Supporting Evidence
- A total of 10175 surface cavities were identified from about 2000 protein chains.
- 66000 structural matches were found among protein cavities.
- Four interesting cases of non-collinear structural matches were identified.
Takeaway
Scientists looked at proteins to see if they evolved similarly even though they are different. They found a surprising similarity that could help us understand diseases better.
Methodology
An exhaustive search for local structural similarities was performed on a dataset of non-redundant protein structures, focusing on non-collinear matches.
Statistical Information
Statistical Significance
Z-score > 10
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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