The evolution of monomeric and oligomeric betagamma-type crystallins. Facts and hypotheses
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1Dipartimento di Chimica Biologica, Università di Napoli Federico II, Via Mezzocannone 16, 80134 Naples, Italy. dalessio@unina.it
Abstract:
The case of homologous monomeric gamma-type and oligomeric beta-type crystallins has been described and analyzed in evolutionary terms. Data and hypotheses from molecular genetics and structural investigations converge and suggest a novel three-phase model for the evolutionary history of crystallin-type proteins. In the divergent cascades of monomeric and oligomeric crystallins, a pivotal role was played by alterations in the gene segments encoding the C-terminal extensions and the intermotif or interdomain linker peptides. These were genomic hot spots where evolution experimented to produce the modern variety of betagamma-crystallin-type quaternary structures.
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