The origin and evolution of plant cystatins and their target cysteine proteinases indicate a complex functional relationship.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Cystatins and their putative targets, the families of cysteine proteinases C1A and C13 play key roles in plants. Comparative genomic analyses are powerful tools to obtain valuable insights into the conservation and evolution of the proteinases and their proteinaceous inhibitors, and could aid to elucidate issues concerning the function of these proteins.

Results

We have performed an evolutionary comparative analysis of cysteine proteinases C1A and C13 and their putative inhibitors in representative species of different taxonomic groups that appeared during the evolution of the Viridiplantae. The results indicate that whereas C1A cysteine proteinases are present in all taxonomic groups, cystatins and C13 cysteine proteinases are absent in some basal groups. Moreove

SUBMITTER: Martinez M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2474614 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature