Tracking the connection between evolutionary and functional shifts using the fungal lipase/feruloyl esterase A family.

ABSTRACT:

Background

There have been many claims of adaptive molecular evolution, but what role does positive selection play in functional divergence? The aim of this study was to test the relationship between evolutionary and functional shifts with special emphasis on the role of the environment. For this purpose, we studied the fungal lipase/feruloyl esterase A family, whose functional diversification makes it a very promising candidate.

Results

The results suggested functional shift following a duplication event where neofunctionalisation of feruloyl esterase A had occurred with conservation of the ancestral lipase function. Evolutionary shift was detected using the branch-site model for testing positive selection on individual codons along specific lineages. Positively selected am

SUBMITTER: Levasseur A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1660568 | biostudies-literature | 2006 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature