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Related Concept Videos

IP3/DAG Signaling Pathway01:11

IP3/DAG Signaling Pathway

Membrane lipids such as phosphatidylinositol (PI) are precursors for several membrane-bound and soluble second messengers. Specific kinases phosphorylate PI and produce phosphorylated inositol phospholipids. One such inositol phospholipids are the  phosphatidylinositol-4,5 bisphosphate [PI(4,5)P2], present in the inner half of the lipid bilayer. Upon ligand binding, GPCR stimulates Gq proteins to turn on phospholipase Cꞵ. Activated phospholipase Cꞵ cleaves PI(4,5)P2 and produces two-second...
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Indirect Motor Pathways

The indirect motor or extrapyramidal pathways originate in the brainstem, the lower portion of the brain that connects it to the spinal cord. They consist of several distinct tracts, each with specialized functions. The four main tracts of the indirect motor pathways are the vestibulospinal tract, the reticulospinal tract, the tectospinal tract, and the rubrospinal tract.
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Evolution of Microbial Genome

Microbial genome evolution is a highly dynamic process shaped by continual gene gain and loss across species and strains. This genomic flexibility allows microorganisms to adapt rapidly to environmental pressures and interactions with other organisms. Central to understanding this diversity is the distinction between the core and pan genomes.The core genome comprises the genes shared by all sampled strains of a species, representing essential functions needed for fundamental cellular processes.
Notch Signaling Pathway03:14

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The Notch signaling pathway is a major intracellular signaling pathway that is highly conserved over a broad spectrum of metazoan species. It stands unique from other intracellular signaling mechanisms in animals because notch protein itself acts as the receptor as well as the primary signaling molecule.
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Notch Signaling Pathway03:14

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Eukaryotic Evolution

The endosymbiont theory is the most widely accepted theory of eukaryotic evolution; however, its progression is still somewhat debated. According to the nucleus-first hypothesis, the ancestral prokaryote first evolved a membrane to enclose DNA and form the nucleus. Conversely, the mitochondria-first hypothesis suggests that the nucleus was formed after endosymbiosis of mitochondria.
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A Web Tool for Generating High Quality Machine-readable Biological Pathways
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Evolution of the TOR pathway.

Teunis J P van Dam1, Fried J T Zwartkruis, Johannes L Bos

  • 1Theoretical Biology and Bioinformatics, Department of Biology, Science Faculty, Utrecht University, Padualaan 8, Utrecht, The Netherlands. Teunis.J.P.vanDam@gmail.com

Journal of Molecular Evolution
|November 8, 2011
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

The evolution of the TOR pathway reveals a conserved core predating complex life, with additions shaping animal growth regulation. This study illuminates conserved and flexible aspects of this vital signaling network.

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Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary biology
  • Molecular biology
  • Cell signaling

Background:

  • The Target of Rapamycin (TOR) kinase pathway regulates eukaryotic growth.
  • TOR pathway components are linked to human cancer and metabolic diseases.
  • Understanding TOR pathway evolution offers insights into growth regulation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To perform phylogenetic analyses of TOR pathway components.
  • To determine the evolutionary origin (point of invention) of these components.
  • To elucidate the evolutionary history of growth regulation.

Main Methods:

  • Phylogenetic analyses of TOR pathway components.
  • Comparative genomics to identify orthologous kinases.
  • Reconstruction of evolutionary timelines.

Main Results:

  • The core TOR pathway and its two main complexes originated before the Last Eukaryotic Common Ancestor.
  • New inputs to the TOR pathway were added during animal evolution.
  • Kinase duplications and sub-functionalization (S6K, RSK, SGK, PKB) increased pathway complexity.
  • Novel AGC kinases in yeast were identified as orthologous to S6 kinase.

Conclusions:

  • The TOR pathway exhibits both high conservation and evolutionary flexibility.
  • Early evolution established a core pathway, with later additions adapting it.
  • This evolutionary framework aids cross-species experimental comparisons.