Simple mechanisms for the evolution of protein complexity.

ABSTRACT: Proteins are tiny models of biological complexity: specific interactions among their many amino acids cause proteins to fold into elaborate structures, assemble with other proteins into higher-order complexes, and change their functions and structures upon binding other molecules. These complex features are classically thought to evolve via long and gradual trajectories driven by persistent natural selection. But a growing body of evidence from biochemistry, protein engineering, and molecular evolution shows that naturally occurring proteins often exist at or near the genetic edge of multimerization, allostery, and even new folds, so just one or a few mutations can trigger acquisition of these properties. These sudden transitions can occur because many of the physical properties that under

SUBMITTER: Pillai AS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9601886 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature