Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 22, 2026

Enzymatic Cascade Reactions for the Synthesis of Chiral Amino Alcohols from L-lysine
Published on: February 16, 2018
Carboxyl/cholinesterases: a case study of the evolution of a successful multigene family
J G Oakeshott1, C Claudianos, R J Russell
1CSIRO Entomology, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia. john.oakeshott@ento.csiro.au
Abstract:
The evolution of organismal diversity among the Metazoa is dependent on the proliferation of genes and diversification of functions in multigene families. Here we analyse these processes for one highly successful family, the carboxyl/cholinesterases. One key to the expansion of the functional niche of this group of enzymes is associated with versatile substrate binding and catalytic machinery. Qualitatively new functions can be obtained by substitution of one or a very few amino acids. This crudely adapted new functionality is then refined rapidly by a pulse of change elsewhere in the molecule; in one case about 13% amino acid divergence occurred in 5-10 million years. Furthermore, we postulate that the versatility of the substrate binding motifs underpins the recruitment of several family members to additional noncatalytic signal transduction functions.
Related Concept Videos
Gene Families
Occasionally these regions can be adapted to take on new roles within the organism, becoming novel genes...
Gene Duplication and Divergence
The duplicated copies of the gene are called Paralogs. Paralogs with similar sequences and functions form a gene family. Across several species, a large number of gene families are characterized.
Exon Recombination
Exon shuffling follows “splice frame rules.” Each exon has three reading...
Allosteric Proteins-ATCase
Aspartate transcarbamoylase (ATCase) is a cytosolic enzyme that catalyzes the condensation of L-aspartate and carbamoyl phosphate to N-carbamoyl-L-aspartate. This reaction is the first step in pyrimidine biosynthesis. UTP and CTP, the end products of the pyrimidine synthesis pathway,...
Gene Families
Occasionally these regions can be adapted to take on new roles within the organism, becoming novel genes...
Cholinesterases: Distribution and Function

