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Updated: Jun 5, 2026
09:12
Selection of Transporter-Targeted Inhibitory Nanobodies by Solid-Supported-Membrane (SSM)-Based Electrophysiology
Published on: May 3, 2021
Pathways of transport protein evolution: recent advances
Vincent H Lam1, Jong-Hoon Lee, Abe Silverio
1Division of Biological Sciences, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093-0116, USA.
Biological Chemistry
|January 4, 2011
Summary
Transport protein evolution reveals complex origins from simple peptides via gene duplication. Some protein families evolved independently, while others show
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Evolutionary Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Transport proteins are crucial for cellular function.
- Understanding the evolutionary pathways of these proteins is key to deciphering their complexity.
- Previous hypotheses suggested simple origins for complex protein structures.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent advances in understanding the evolution of transport proteins.
- To explore the proposed mechanisms, such as intragenic duplication, leading to transport protein diversity.
- To investigate the independent and superfamily origins of distinct transport protein families.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on transport protein evolution.
- Analysis of sequence and structural data to infer evolutionary relationships.
- Comparative genomics to identify duplication events and conserved domains.
Main Results:
- Evidence suggests complex transmembrane transport proteins evolved from shorter peptides via intragenic duplication.
- Distinct evolutionary pathways indicate both independent origins and superfamily assignments for different protein families.
- Observed diversification in protein topology, with some families maintaining uniformity and an instance of 'retroevolution' identified.
Conclusions:
- The evolution of transport proteins is a multifaceted process involving gene duplication and diversification.
- The findings expand the current understanding of how simple peptide precursors give rise to complex functional proteins.
- This review highlights the dynamic nature of protein evolution, including instances of simplification.
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