A probabilistic classifier for olfactory receptor pseudogenes.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Olfactory receptors (ORs), the largest mammalian gene superfamily (900-1400 genes), has >50% pseudogenes in humans. While most of these inactive genes are identified via coding frame (nonsense) disruptions, seemingly intact genes may also be inactive due to other deleterious (missense) mutations. An ultimate assessment of the actual size of the functional human OR repertoire thus requires an accurate distinction between genes and pseudogenes.

Results

To characterize inactive ORs with intact open reading frame, we have developed a probabilistic Classifier for Olfactory Receptor Pseudogenes (CORP). This algorithm is based on deviations from a functionally crucial consensus, constituting sixty highly conserved positions identified by a comparison of two evolutionaril

SUBMITTER: Menashe I 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1599758 | biostudies-literature | 2006 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature