TY - JOUR
T1 - Structural divergence and distant relationships in proteins
T2 - Evolution of the globins
AU - Lecomte, Juliette T.J.
AU - Vuletich, David A.
AU - Lesk, Arthur M.
N1 - Funding Information:
This work was supported by NSF grant MCB-0349409 (JTJL) and NASA grant NNG04GN33H (DAV).
PY - 2005/6
Y1 - 2005/6
N2 - The globin family has long been known from studies of ∼150-residue proteins such as vertebrate myoglobins and haemoglobins. Recently, this family has been enriched by the investigation of the sequences and structures of truncated globins, which have the same basic topology but are approximately 30 residues shorter and exhibit functions other than the familiar one of binding diatomic ligands. The divergence of protein sequences, structures and functions reveals Nature's exploration of the potential inherent in a folding pattern, that is, the topology of the native structure. The observation of what remains constant and what varies during the evolution of a protein family reveals essential features of structure and function. Study of proteins with a wide range of divergence can therefore sharpen our understanding of how different amino acid sequences can determine similar three-dimensional structures. Globins have provided, and continue to provide, interesting material for such studies.
AB - The globin family has long been known from studies of ∼150-residue proteins such as vertebrate myoglobins and haemoglobins. Recently, this family has been enriched by the investigation of the sequences and structures of truncated globins, which have the same basic topology but are approximately 30 residues shorter and exhibit functions other than the familiar one of binding diatomic ligands. The divergence of protein sequences, structures and functions reveals Nature's exploration of the potential inherent in a folding pattern, that is, the topology of the native structure. The observation of what remains constant and what varies during the evolution of a protein family reveals essential features of structure and function. Study of proteins with a wide range of divergence can therefore sharpen our understanding of how different amino acid sequences can determine similar three-dimensional structures. Globins have provided, and continue to provide, interesting material for such studies.
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U2 - 10.1016/j.sbi.2005.05.008
DO - 10.1016/j.sbi.2005.05.008
M3 - Review article
C2 - 15922591
AN - SCOPUS:20444476656
VL - 15
SP - 290
EP - 301
JO - Current Opinion in Structural Biology
JF - Current Opinion in Structural Biology
SN - 0959-440X
IS - 3 SPEC. ISS.
ER -