Evolutionary and functional relationships within the DJ1 superfamily.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Inferences about protein function are often made based on sequence homology to other gene products of known activities. This approach is valuable for small families of conserved proteins but can be difficult to apply to large superfamilies of proteins with diverse function. In this study we looked at sequence homology between members of the DJ-1/ThiJ/PfpI superfamily, which includes a human protein of unclear function, DJ-1, associated with inherited Parkinson's disease.

Results

DJ-1 orthologs in a variety of eukaryotic species cluster together in a single group. The most closely related group is the bacterial ThiJ genes. These are kinases involved in the biosynthesis of thiamine, a function that has been dispensed with evolutionarily in most eukaryotes where thia

SUBMITTER: Bandyopadhyay S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC385224 | biostudies-literature | 2004 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature