The distribution of GYR- and YLP-like motifs in Drosophila suggests a general role in cuticle assembly and other protein-protein interactions.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Arthropod cuticle is composed predominantly of a self-assembling matrix of chitin and protein. Genes encoding structural cuticular proteins are remarkably abundant in arthropod genomes, yet there has been no systematic survey of conserved motifs across cuticular protein families.

Methodology/principal findings

Two short sequence motifs with conserved tyrosines were identified in Drosophila cuticular proteins that were similar to the GYR and YLP Interpro domains. These motifs were found in members of the CPR, Tweedle, CPF/CPFL, and (in Anopheles gambiae) CPLCG cuticular protein families, and the Dusky/Miniature family of cuticle-associated proteins. Tweedle proteins have a characteristic motif architecture that is shared with the Drosophila protein GCR1 and its ort

SUBMITTER: Cornman RS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2932725 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature