Navigation Links
Census of protein architectures offers new view of history of life
Date:10/1/2007

The present can tell you a lot about the past, but you need to know where to look. A new study appearing this month in Genome Research reveals that protein architectures the three-dimensional structures of specific regions within proteins provide an extraordinary window on the history of life.

In the study, researchers at the University of Illinois describe contemporary protein architectures as molecular fossils or historical imprints that mark important milestones in evolutionary history. The research team compiled a global census of protein architectures, and used these relics to plot the emergence, diversification and refinement of each of the three superkingdoms of life: Archaea, Bacteria and Eukarya.

All proteins are composed of architectural elements, called domains, which can be identified by their structural and functional similarities to one another. Protein domains are the gears, belts, springs and motors that allow the larger protein machinery to function as it should. Every protein contains one or more of them, and proteins that perform very different tasks can contain identical domains.

Protein domains are grouped into what are called fold families and fold superfamilies. Members of a fold superfamily may differ in their underlying amino acid sequences, but retain structural and functional similarities and are evolutionarily related. Fold superfamilies are grouped together into broad categories, called folds.

The new study tracks the evolution of folds and fold superfamilies from the ancient world to the present.

Protein folds turn out to be reliable markers of evolutionary events because they are quite stable over time, said Gustavo Caetano-Anolls, a professor of crop sciences and a principal investigator on the study. Even mutations in the genes that code for them rarely change their three-dimensional structures.

Structures are highly conserved because they were important discoveries in
'/>"/>

Contact: Diana Yates
diya@uiuc.edu
217-333-5802
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Source:Eurekalert

1

GOOD

Page: 1 2 3 4

Related biology news :

1. Census of Marine Life explorers surprised by diversity, density of Arctic creatures
2. First Biodiversity Census of coral reef ecosystems in the NW Hawaiian Islands
3. Good times ahead for dinosaur hunters, according to U of Penn scientists dinosaur census
4. Update on census of worlds most endangered cat -- Female Amur leopard found dead
5. Quantum Dots Research Leads to New Knowledge about Protein Binding in Plants
6. Protein discovery could unlock the secret to better TB treatment
7. New, automated tool successfully classifies and relates proteins in unprecedented way
8. New binding target for oncogenic viral protein
9. Controversial drug shown to act on brain protein to cut alcohol use
10. Timing is everything: First step in protein building revealed
11. UWs Rosetta software to unlock secrets of many human proteins
Post Your Comments:
*Name:
*Comment:
*Email:
(Date:5/16/2013)... May 16, 2013 The relationship between the ... has not been clear. Schizophrenia is commonly associated ... There are clues that reduced IQ may be ... example, reduced cognitive ability may precede the onset ... present in healthy relatives of people diagnosed with ...
(Date:5/16/2013)... hematopoiesis at sites outside the bone marrow in ... (LMU) in Munich now show that a specific type ... blood cells. , Balanced hematopoiesis is essential for the ... takes place mainly in the liver and the spleen. ... and this tissue normally serves as the sole source ...
(Date:5/16/2013)... May 16, 2013 Reportlinker.com announces ... available in its catalogue: ... 2018 http://www.reportlinker.com/p01181929/Global-Biometric-Systems-Market-Forecast--Opportunities-2018.html#utm_source=prnewswire&utm_medium=pr&utm_campaign=Security_Systems ... security practises such as photographs, passwords and ... biometric technologies in last few years. Security ...
Breaking Biology News(10 mins):Genetic risk for schizophrenia is connected to reduced IQ 2Herpes infections: Natural killer cells activate hematopoiesis 2Global Biometric Systems Market Forecast & Opportunities, 2018 2Global Biometric Systems Market Forecast & Opportunities, 2018 3Global Biometric Systems Market Forecast & Opportunities, 2018 4Global Biometric Systems Market Forecast & Opportunities, 2018 5Global Biometric Systems Market Forecast & Opportunities, 2018 6Global Biometric Systems Market Forecast & Opportunities, 2018 7
... rapid translation of biologically-based laboratory discoveries into daily clinical ... back from the clinic to the laboratory, to further ... It is imperative for basic researchers to understand and ... knowledge and skills to integrate and use new technologies. ...
... They tell a story, these bleached bones that gleam ... on landscapes like Yellowstone may provide detailed accounts of ... decades or even century, scientists have found. "The ... insights into our understanding of ecosystem history, especially how ...
... new interventional radiology treatment that blocks blood supply ... results to transurethral resection of the prostate (or ... treatment. However, this minimally invasive treatmentprostatic artery embolizationhas ... as sexual dysfunction, urinary incontinence, blood loss and ...
Cached Biology News:Bones of long-dead animals conjure ghosts at Yellowstone 2Bones of long-dead animals conjure ghosts at Yellowstone 3No scalpel: Minimally invasive breakthrough for men’s enlarged prostates improves symptoms 2No scalpel: Minimally invasive breakthrough for men’s enlarged prostates improves symptoms 3No scalpel: Minimally invasive breakthrough for men’s enlarged prostates improves symptoms 4
(Date:5/17/2013)... Cardiff, UK (PRWEB) May 17, 2013 ... by Photonics21 at the association’s recent annual ... others including EC Vice-President Neelie Kroes, who called the ... between sectors, and a stimulant to European innovation.” , ... the structure of the new Photonics PPP at its ...
(Date:5/17/2013)... International, Inc. (NASDAQ: YONG ) ("Yongye" or ... crop nutrient products in the People,s Republic ... 16, 2013, the special committee (the "Special Committee") of ... provided a letter (the "Letter") issued by Abax Global ... to Full Alliance International Limited ("Full Alliance"). The Letter, ...
(Date:5/17/2013)... Canada (PRWEB) May 17, 2013 The ... understanding complex biological systems that can help predict the ... speaker Dr. Sergey Stepaniants, Head of Computational Biology at ... computational biology tools to ensure high-quality genomics when used ... can be applied to complex data sets to identify ...
(Date:5/17/2013)... Tooth decay is an epidemic in American ... the disease. The World Health Organization says that worldwide, ... have cavities. What are the long-term effects of this transmissible ... connection between the oral bacterial imbalance and serious systemic issues ... yet it is also 100% preventable? Answer: there has been ...
Breaking Biology Technology:SPIE Joins in Praise for ‘Huge Step Forward’ for Innovation R&D Enabled by Photonics21 Actions 2SPIE Joins in Praise for ‘Huge Step Forward’ for Innovation R&D Enabled by Photonics21 Actions 3Yongye International Provides Update on Status of Proposed Go Private Offer 2Yongye International Provides Update on Status of Proposed Go Private Offer 3Yongye International Provides Update on Status of Proposed Go Private Offer 4Seeing the Future: How a Revolutionary New Bacterial Screening Device Can Predict a Patient’s Future for Tooth Decay 2Seeing the Future: How a Revolutionary New Bacterial Screening Device Can Predict a Patient’s Future for Tooth Decay 3
... known for its innovation and ability to take risks, ... the dynamics and places like South Korea, China and ... India, for example, is gaining ground in software development, ... we hear so much about. The advantages the United ...
... In this final installment of an interview with Carl ... (WARF), Gulbrandsen shares WARFs investment and portfolio strategy, WARFs ... an insightful discussion of WARFs experience with software and ... WARF is Reaching Out to Businesses About Technology Developed ...
... are saying nothing in record numbers. , ,In 2003, an ... services such as LiveJournal , Movable Type , and ... long as a New Year's resolution. , ,A November study ... suggests that 20 percent of all blogs (short for "Web logs") ...
Cached Biology Technology:Keeping Innovation Vibrant in the U.S. 2WTN Interview: Carl Gulbrandsen
WARFs Investment and Portfolio Strategy 2WTN Interview: Carl Gulbrandsen
WARFs Investment and Portfolio Strategy 3WTN Interview: Carl Gulbrandsen
WARFs Investment and Portfolio Strategy 4Who Gives a Blog? 2
... RNA Spike-In Kit contains in vitro synthesized, ... complementary control probes on Agilents microarrays, with ... as a positive microarray control in the ... kit is a required component of the ...
... of Microarrays Using the New FAST(tm) Frame ... plate is designed to hold four, 16-pad ... chambers in a microplate footprint for high ... meet the standards recommended by the Society ...
... in a single and twin head, features T ... the most compact, lightweight package in its performance ... air and gas applications., Available in single ... Delivers 1.5 and 2.0 liters per Watt @ ...
... of cells • Blade design minimizes cell ... growth surface • Designed for use in ... • Sterilized by gamma radiation and certified ... new product number, created to easily match ...
Biology Products: