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Related Concept Videos

Gene Evolution - Fast or Slow?02:05

Gene Evolution - Fast or Slow?

The genomes of eukaryotes are punctuated by long stretches of sequence which do not code for proteins or RNAs. Although some of these regions do contain crucial regulatory sequences, the vast majority of this DNA serves no known function. Typically, these regions of the genome are the ones in which the fastest change, in evolutionary terms, is observed, because there is typically little to no selection pressure acting on these regions to preserve their sequences.
In contrast, regions which code...
Gene Evolution - Fast or Slow?02:05

Gene Evolution - Fast or Slow?

The genomes of eukaryotes are punctuated by long stretches of sequence which do not code for proteins or RNAs. Although some of these regions do contain crucial regulatory sequences, the vast majority of this DNA serves no known function. Typically, these regions of the genome are the ones in which the fastest change, in evolutionary terms, is observed, because there is typically little to no selection pressure acting on these regions to preserve their sequences.
In contrast, regions which code...
Genome Size and the Evolution of New Genes03:21

Genome Size and the Evolution of New Genes

While every living organism has a genome of some kind (be it RNA, or DNA), there is considerable variation in the sizes of these blueprints. One major factor that impacts genome size is whether the organism is prokaryotic or eukaryotic. In prokaryotes, the genome contains little to no non-coding sequence, such that genes are tightly clustered in groups or operons sequentially along the chromosome. Conversely, the genes in eukaryotes are punctuated by long stretches of non-coding sequence.
Genome Size and the Evolution of New Genes03:21

Genome Size and the Evolution of New Genes

While every living organism has a genome of some kind (be it RNA, or DNA), there is considerable variation in the sizes of these blueprints. One major factor that impacts genome size is whether the organism is prokaryotic or eukaryotic. In prokaryotes, the genome contains little to no non-coding sequence, such that genes are tightly clustered in groups or operons sequentially along the chromosome. Conversely, the genes in eukaryotes are punctuated by long stretches of non-coding sequence.
Conservation of Protein Domains Over Different Proteins02:26

Conservation of Protein Domains Over Different Proteins

Protein domains are small structurally independent units that are part of a single amino acid chain.  Although these domains are often structurally independent, they may rely on synergistic effects to perform their functions as part of a larger protein. Protein domains may be conserved within the same organism, as well as across different organisms.
A limited set of protein domains often duplicate and recombine during evolution. These domains can be organized in different combinations to form...
Protein Families02:47

Protein Families

Protein families are groups of homologous proteins; that is, they have similarities in amino acid sequences and three-dimensional structures. Protein families usually occur because of gene duplication, where an additional copy of a gene is inserted into the genome of an organism.   Mutations that change the amino acids but still allow the protein to be properly synthesized, will lead to new protein family members.   If these new proteins contain similar amino acids in key locations, protein...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 13, 2026

Daily Transfers, Archiving Populations, and Measuring Fitness in the Long-Term Evolution Experiment with Escherichia coli
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Daily Transfers, Archiving Populations, and Measuring Fitness in the Long-Term Evolution Experiment with Escherichia coli

Published on: August 18, 2023

Why does a protein's evolutionary rate vary over time?

Xiangjun Du1, David J Lipman, Joshua L Cherry

  • 1National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.

Genome Biology and Evolution
|February 26, 2013
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Protein evolutionary rates fluctuate unpredictably over time. Domain rates within proteins tend to vary together, offering insights into protein evolution mechanisms.

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Last Updated: May 13, 2026

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Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary biology
  • Molecular evolution
  • Protein evolution

Background:

  • Protein evolutionary rates (ER) vary across proteins and change over time.
  • The causes of these evolutionary rate fluctuations are not well understood.
  • Studying ER fluctuation can provide broader insights into protein evolution.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To characterize evolutionary rate fluctuation in mammals and Drosophila.
  • To investigate the correlation between rate variation and protein properties like expression level and phylogenetic distribution.
  • To determine if evolutionary rates of different protein domains vary independently.

Main Methods:

  • Comparative analysis of protein sequences from mammals and Drosophila.
  • Quantification of relative evolutionary rates (ER) for proteins and their domains.
  • Statistical analysis to assess correlations between rate variation and protein characteristics.

Main Results:

  • Little correlation was found between protein rate variation and expression level or phylogenetic distribution.
  • Surprisingly, little correlation was observed between rate variation and the protein's overall ER.
  • Evolutionary rates of different protein domains tend to vary in concert, similar to positions within the same domain.

Conclusions:

  • Protein evolutionary rate fluctuation is complex and not simply explained by expression levels or distribution.
  • Domain-level evolutionary rates are coupled, suggesting coordinated evolutionary pressures or constraints.
  • These findings contribute to understanding the mechanisms driving protein evolution.