The ubiquilin gene family: evolutionary patterns and functional insights.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Ubiquilins are proteins that function as ubiquitin receptors in eukaryotes. Mutations in two ubiquilin-encoding genes have been linked to the genesis of neurodegenerative diseases. However, ubiquilin functions are still poorly understood.

Results

In this study, evolutionary and functional data are combined to determine the origin and diversification of the ubiquilin gene family and to characterize novel potential roles of ubiquilins in mammalian species, including humans. The analysis of more than six hundred sequences allowed characterizing ubiquilin diversity in all the main eukaryotic groups. Many organisms (e. g. fungi, many animals) have single ubiquilin genes, but duplications in animal, plant, alveolate and excavate species are described. Seven different ub

SUBMITTER: Marin I 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4230246 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature