Evolutionary genomics reveals conserved structural determinants of signaling and adaptation in microbial chemoreceptors.

ABSTRACT: As an important model for transmembrane signaling, methyl-accepting chemotaxis proteins (MCPs) have been extensively studied by using genetic, biochemical, and structural techniques. However, details of the molecular mechanism of signaling are still not well understood. The availability of genomic information for hundreds of species enables the identification of features in protein sequences that are conserved over long evolutionary distances and thus are critically important for function. We carried out a large-scale comparative genomic analysis of the MCP signaling and adaptation domain family and identified features that appear to be critical for receptor structure and function. Based on domain length and sequence conservation, we identified seven major MCP classes and three distinct st

SUBMITTER: Alexander RP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1797150 | biostudies-literature | 2007 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature