Evolution by leaps: gene duplication in bacteria.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Sequence related families of genes and proteins are common in bacterial genomes. In Escherichia coli they constitute over half of the genome. The presence of families and superfamilies of proteins suggest a history of gene duplication and divergence during evolution. Genome encoded protein families, their size and functional composition, reflect metabolic potentials of the organisms they are found in. Comparing protein families of different organisms give insight into functional differences and similarities.

Results

Equivalent enzyme families with metabolic functions were selected from the genomes of four experimentally characterized bacteria belonging to separate genera. Both similarities and differences were detected in the protein family memberships, with more

SUBMITTER: Serres MH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2787491 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature