Mineralized tissue and vertebrate evolution: the secretory calcium-binding phosphoprotein gene cluster.

ABSTRACT: Gene duplication creates evolutionary novelties by using older tools in new ways. We have identified evidence that the genes for enamel matrix proteins (EMPs), milk caseins, and salivary proteins comprise a family descended from a common ancestor by tandem gene duplication. These genes remain linked, except for one EMP gene, amelogenin. These genes show common structural features and are expressed in ontogenetically similar tissues. Many of these genes encode secretory Ca-binding phosphoproteins, which regulate the Ca-phosphate concentration of the extracellular environment. By exploiting this fundamental property, these genes have subsequently diversified to serve specialized adaptive functions. Casein makes milk supersaturated with Ca-phosphate, which was critical to the successive mamma

SUBMITTER: Kawasaki K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC153048 | biostudies-literature | 2003 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature