Characterization of the definitive classical calpain family of vertebrates using phylogenetic, evolutionary and expression analyses.

ABSTRACT: The calpains are a superfamily of proteases with extensive relevance to human health and welfare. Vast research attention is given to the vertebrate 'classical' subfamily, making it surprising that the evolutionary origins, distribution and relationships of these genes is poorly characterized. Consequently, there exists uncertainty about the conservation of gene family structure, function and expression that has been principally defined from work with mammals. Here, more than 200 vertebrate classical calpains were incorporated in phylogenetic analyses spanning an unprecedented range of taxa, including jawless and cartilaginous fish. We demonstrate that the common vertebrate ancestor had at least six classical calpains, including a single gene that gave rise to CAPN11, 1, 2 and 8 in the ear

SUBMITTER: Macqueen DJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4043111 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature