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The complement of enzymatic sets in different species
Shiri Freilich1, Ruth V Spriggs, Richard A George
1EMBL-EBI, Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge CB10 1SD, UK. shirigo@ebi.ac.uk
Journal of Molecular Biology
|May 18, 2005
Summary
This study analyzed enzyme sets across species, finding that genome enzyme content and expansion patterns differ between prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Increased species complexity correlates with greater functional redundancy in enzymes.
Area of Science:
- Genomics
- Biochemistry
- Evolutionary Biology
Background:
- Enzymes are crucial for biological functions and are well-classified, making them ideal for studying evolutionary relationships.
- Understanding enzyme evolution helps elucidate links between genetic changes, functional diversity, and organismal traits.
Purpose of the Study:
- To estimate the proportion of enzymes within various genomes.
- To quantify functional redundancy of enzymes across different life domains.
- To identify novel enzyme functions and lineage-specific expansions, particularly in Metazoa.
Main Methods:
- Utilized SWISS-PROT database for annotated protein sequences.
- Integrated sequence data from fully sequenced genomes.
- Employed the Enzyme Commission (EC) functional classification system.
Main Results:
- Prokaryotic and eukaryotic species exhibit distinct genome enzyme fractions and expansion patterns.
- Functional redundancy of enzymes increases with species complexity.
- Mammalian genomes show significant expansion of enzymes involved in signaling and degradation pathways.
Conclusions:
- Enzyme composition and evolution vary significantly between prokaryotes and eukaryotes.
- Species complexity is associated with increased enzymatic functional redundancy.
- Mammalian evolution is characterized by specific expansions in signaling and degradation enzymes.