Molecular evolution of a chordate specific family of G protein-coupled receptors.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Chordate evolution is a history of innovations that is marked by physical and behavioral specializations, which led to the development of a variety of forms from a single ancestral group. Among other important characteristics, vertebrates obtained a well developed brain, anterior sensory structures, a closed circulatory system and gills or lungs as blood oxygenation systems. The duplication of pre-existing genes had profound evolutionary implications for the developmental complexity in vertebrates, since mutations modifying the function of a duplicated protein can lead to novel functions, improving the evolutionary success.

Results

We analyzed here the evolution of the GPRC5 family of G protein-coupled receptors by comprehensive similarity searches and found that

SUBMITTER: Kurtenbach S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3238225 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature