scholarly journals A putative origin of insect chemosensory receptors in the last common eukaryotic ancestor

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard Benton ◽  
Christophe Dessimoz ◽  
David Moi
Keyword(s):  
Ion Channels ◽  
Large Family ◽  
Structural Features ◽  
Odorant Receptors ◽  
Gustatory Receptor ◽  
Plant Proteins ◽  
Unicellular Eukaryotes ◽  
Last Common Eukaryotic Ancestor ◽  
Putative Origin ◽  
Eukaryotic Genomes

AbstractThe insect chemosensory repertoires of Gustatory Receptors (GRs) and Odorant Receptors (ORs) together represent one of the largest families of ligand-gated ion channels. Previous analyses have identified homologous “Gustatory Receptor-Like (GRL)” proteins across Animalia, but the evolutionary origin of this novel class of ion channels is unknown. We describe a survey of unicellular eukaryotic genomes for GRLs, identifying several candidates in fungi, protists and algae that contain many structural features characteristic of animal GRLs. The existence of these proteins in unicellular eukaryotes, together with ab initio protein structure predictions, supports homology between GRLs and a large family of uncharacterised plant proteins containing the DUF3537 domain. Together, this evidence suggests an origin of this protein family in the last common eukaryotic ancestor.

scholarly journals A putative origin of the insect chemosensory receptor superfamily in the last common eukaryotic ancestor

eLife ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard Benton ◽  
Christophe Dessimoz ◽  
David Moi
Keyword(s):  
Ion Channels ◽  
Structural Features ◽  
Odorant Receptors ◽  
Gustatory Receptor ◽  
Plant Proteins ◽  
Chemosensory Receptor ◽  
Unicellular Eukaryotes ◽  
Last Common Eukaryotic Ancestor ◽  
Putative Origin ◽  
Eukaryotic Genomes

The insect chemosensory repertoires of Odorant Receptors (ORs) and Gustatory Receptors (GRs) together represent one of the largest families of ligand-gated ion channels. Previous analyses have identified homologous ‘Gustatory Receptor-Like’ (GRL) proteins across Animalia, but the evolutionary origin of this novel class of ion channels is unknown. We describe a survey of unicellular eukaryotic genomes for GRLs, identifying several candidates in fungi, protists and algae that contain many structural features characteristic of animal GRLs. The existence of these proteins in unicellular eukaryotes, together with ab initio protein structure predictions, provide evidence for homology between GRLs and a family of uncharacterized plant proteins containing the DUF3537 domain. Together, our analyses suggest an origin of this protein superfamily in the last common eukaryotic ancestor.

Tc8, a Tourist-like Transposon in Caenorhabditis elegans

Genetics ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 158 (3) ◽  
pp. 1081-1088 ◽  
Author(s):  
Quang Hien Le ◽  
Kime Turcotte ◽  
Thomas Bureau
Keyword(s):  
Caenorhabditis Elegans ◽  
Expressed Sequence Tags ◽  
Large Family ◽  
Insertion Sequences ◽  
Normal Plant ◽  
Nematode Caenorhabditis Elegans ◽  
Plant Genomes ◽  
Plant Genes ◽  
Expressed Sequence ◽  
Eukaryotic Genomes

Abstract Members of the Tourist family of miniature inverted-repeat transposable elements (MITEs) are very abundant among a wide variety of plants, are frequently found associated with normal plant genes, and thus are thought to be important players in the organization and evolution of plant genomes. In Arabidopsis, the recent discovery of a Tourist member harboring a putative transposase has shed new light on the mobility and evolution of MITEs. Here, we analyze a family of Tourist transposons endogenous to the genome of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans (Bristol N2). One member of this large family is 7568 bp in length, harbors an ORF similar to the putative Tourist transposase from Arabidopsis, and is related to the IS5 family of bacterial insertion sequences (IS). Using database searches, we found expressed sequence tags (ESTs) similar to the putative Tourist transposases in plants, insects, and vertebrates. Taken together, our data suggest that Tourist-like and IS5-like transposons form a superfamily of potentially active elements ubiquitous to prokaryotic and eukaryotic genomes.

Retinol dehydrogenases: Membrane-bound enzymes for the visual function

2014 ◽  
Vol 92 (6) ◽  
pp. 510-523 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mustapha Lhor ◽  
Christian Salesse
Keyword(s):  
Pigment Epithelium ◽  
Retinal Pigment ◽  
Membrane Binding ◽  
Large Family ◽  
Structural Features ◽  
Visual Cycle ◽  
Retinoid Metabolism ◽  
Current State ◽  
Membrane Bound ◽  
Membrane Bound Enzymes

Retinoid metabolism is important for many physiological functions, such as differenciation, growth, and vision. In the visual context, after the absorption of light in rod photoreceptors by the visual pigment rhodopsin, 11-cis retinal is isomerized to all-trans retinal. This retinoid subsequently undergoes a series of modifications during the visual cycle through a cascade of reactions occurring in photoreceptors and in the retinal pigment epithelium. Retinol dehydrogenases (RDHs) are enzymes responsible for crucial steps of this visual cycle. They belong to a large family of proteins designated as short-chain dehydrogenases/reductases. The structure of these RDHs has been predicted using modern bioinformatics tools, which allowed to propose models with similar structures including a common Rossman fold. These enzymes undergo oxidoreduction reactions, whose direction is dictated by the preference and concentration of their individual cofactor (NAD(H)/NADP(H)). This review presents the current state of knowledge on functional and structural features of RDHs involved in the visual cycle as well as knockout models. RDHs are described as integral or peripheral enzymes. A topology model of the membrane binding of these RDHs via their N- and (or) C-terminal domain has been proposed on the basis of their individual properties. Membrane binding is a crucial issue for these enzymes because of the high hydrophobicity of their retinoid substrates.

scholarly journals In silico prediction of structure and function for a large family of transmembrane proteins that includes human Tmem41b

F1000Research ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. 1395
Author(s):  
Shahram Mesdaghi ◽  
David L. Murphy ◽  
Filomeno Sánchez Rodríguez ◽  
J. Javier Burgos-Mármol ◽  
Daniel J. Rigden
Keyword(s):  
Ab Initio ◽  
Rotational Symmetry ◽  
Domain Boundary ◽  
Pfam Domain ◽  
Transmembrane Proteins ◽  
Large Family ◽  
Data Bank ◽  
Structural Features ◽  
Structure And Function ◽  
And Function

Background: Recent strides in computational structural biology have opened up an opportunity to understand previously uncharacterised proteins.  The under-representation of transmembrane proteins in the Protein Data Bank highlights the need to apply new and advanced bioinformatics methods to shed light on their structure and function.  This study focuses on a family of transmembrane proteins containing the Pfam domain PF09335 ('SNARE_ASSOC'/ ‘VTT ‘/’Tvp38’). One prominent member, Tmem41b, has been shown to be involved in early stages of autophagosome formation and is vital in mouse embryonic development as well as being identified as a viral host factor of SARS-CoV-2. Methods: We used evolutionary covariance-derived information to construct and validate ab initio models, make domain boundary predictions and infer local structural features.  Results: The results from the structural bioinformatics analysis of Tmem41b and its homologues showed that they contain a tandem repeat that is clearly visible in evolutionary covariance data but much less so by sequence analysis.  Furthermore, cross-referencing of other prediction data with covariance analysis showed that the internal repeat features two-fold rotational symmetry.  Ab initio modelling of Tmem41b and homologues reinforces these structural predictions.  Local structural features predicted to be present in Tmem41b were also present in Cl-/H+ antiporters.  Conclusions: The results of this study strongly point to Tmem41b and its homologues being transporters for an as-yet uncharacterised substrate and possibly using H+ antiporter activity as its mechanism for transport.

New Ternary Phosphide La7Pd17P12: Preparation and Crystal Structure

2002 ◽  
Vol 57 (12) ◽  
pp. 1409-1413 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Budnyk ◽  
Yu. Prots ◽  
Yu. Kuz’ma ◽  
Yu. Grin
Keyword(s):  
Crystal Structure ◽  
Temperature Region ◽  
Large Family ◽  
Structural Features ◽  
Structural Motif ◽  
Crystal Data ◽  
Monoclinic Structure ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Data Space ◽  
Metal Ratio

The title compound was prepared from elements by sintering in the temperature region between 1073 and 1473 K. The monoclinic structure of La7Pd17P12 was solved and refined from X-ray single crystal data: space group C2/m, a = 24.519(1), b = 4.0859(5), c = 13.6106(8)Å , β = 112.129(3)°, Z = 2, RF = 0.025 for 1065 unique of 4877 measured reflections and 112 refined parameters. Main structural motif of the new phosphide are condensed blocks of trigonal prisms around phosphorus atoms connected to infinite chains via lanthanum atoms. The structural features of La7Pd17P12 are discussed in comparison with some representatives of a large family of structures with metal / non-metal ratio close to 2 : 1.

The underground life of homeodomain-leucine zipper transcription factors

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Perotti M F ◽  
Arce A L ◽  
R L Chan
Keyword(s):  
Transcription Factors ◽  
Root Development ◽  
Leucine Zipper ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Expression Patterns ◽  
Large Family ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Structural Features ◽  
Specific Cell ◽  
High Plasticity

Abstract Roots are the anchorage organs of plants, responsible for water and nutrient uptake, exhibiting high plasticity. Root architecture is driven by the interactions of biomolecules, including transcription factors (TFs) and hormones that are crucial players regulating root plasticity. Multiple TF families are involved in root development; some, such as ARFs and LBDs, have been well characterized, whereas others remain less investigated. In this review, we synthesize the current knowledge about the involvement of the large family of homeodomain-leucine zipper (HD-Zip) TFs in root development. This family is divided into four subfamilies (I to IV), mainly according to structural features, such as additional motifs aside from HD-Zip, as well as their size, gene structure, and expression patterns. We explored and analyzed public databases and the scientific literature regarding HD-Zip TFs in Arabidopsis and other species. Most members of the four HD-Zip subfamilies are expressed in specific cell types and several ones from each group have assigned functions in root development. Notably, a high proportion of the studied proteins are part of intricate regulation pathways involved in primary and lateral root growth and development.

scholarly journals The cell biology of smell

2010 ◽  
Vol 191 (3) ◽  
pp. 443-452 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shannon DeMaria ◽  
John Ngai
Keyword(s):  
Olfactory System ◽  
Cell Biology ◽  
Odorant Receptor ◽  
Large Family ◽  
G Protein Coupled Receptors ◽  
Odorant Receptors ◽  
Chemical Structures ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
G Protein Coupled ◽  
The Brain

The olfactory system detects and discriminates myriad chemical structures across a wide range of concentrations. To meet this task, the system utilizes a large family of G protein–coupled receptors—the odorant receptors—which are the chemical sensors underlying the perception of smell. Interestingly, the odorant receptors are also involved in a number of developmental decisions, including the regulation of their own expression and the patterning of the olfactory sensory neurons' synaptic connections in the brain. This review will focus on the diverse roles of the odorant receptor in the function and development of the olfactory system.

scholarly journals Alternative Splicing Switches the Divalent Cation Selectivity of TRPM3 Channels

2005 ◽  
Vol 280 (23) ◽  
pp. 22540-22548 ◽  
Author(s):  
Johannes Oberwinkler ◽  
Annette Lis ◽  
Klaus M. Giehl ◽  
Veit Flockerzi ◽  
Stephan E. Philipp
Keyword(s):  
Alternative Splicing ◽  
Ion Channels ◽  
Transient Receptor Potential ◽  
Trp Channels ◽  
Splice Variants ◽  
Large Family ◽  
Ionic Selectivity ◽  
Pore Region ◽  
Cation Selectivity ◽  
Ion Conducting

TRPM3 is a poorly understood member of the large family of transient receptor potential (TRP) ion channels. Here we describe five novel splice variants of TRPM3, TRPM3α1–5. These variants are characterized by a previously unknown amino terminus of 61 residues. The differences between the five variants arise through splice events at three different sites. One of these splice sites might be located in the pore region of the channel as indicated by sequence alignment with other, better-characterized TRP channels. We selected two splice variants, TRPM3α1 and TRPM3α2, that differ only in this presumed pore region and analyzed their biophysical characteristics after heterologous expression in human embryonic kidney 293 cells. TRPM3α1 as well as TRPM3α2 induced a novel, outwardly rectifying cationic conductance that was tightly regulated by intracellular Mg2+. However, these two variants are highly different in their ionic selectivity. Whereas TRPM3α1-encoded channels are poorly permeable for divalent cations, TRPM3α2-encoded channels are well permeated by Ca2+ and Mg2+. Additionally, we found that currents through TRPM3α2 are blocked by extracellular monovalent cations, whereas currents through TRPM3α1 are not. These differences unambiguously show that TRPM3 proteins constitute a pore-forming channel subunit and localize the position of the ion-conducting pore within the TRPM3 protein. Although the ionic selectivity of ion channels has traditionally been regarded as rather constant for a given channel-encoding gene, our results show that alternative splicing can be a mechanism to produce channels with very different selectivity profiles.

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