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Updated: Mar 5, 2026

MEDUSA for Identifying Death Regulatory Genes in Chemo-genetic Profiling Data
Published on: February 7, 2025
Understanding the conservation patterns and molecular phylogenetics of human death receptors family through
Jinny Tomar1, Chiranjib Chakraborty2, C George Priya Doss3
1Biotechnology Department, IILM Academy of Higher Learning, Knowledge Park, Greater Noida, UP, India.
Abstract:
Human death receptors (TNFR1, FAS, DR3, DR4, DR5, DR6 and TNFBR), primarily from tumor necrosis receptor super family, play an essential role in the process of the extrinsic pathway of apoptosis. We performed conserved domain, amino acid residues analysis in which cysteine residues were found to be highly conserved for all the family members. Sixteen (16) highly conserved residues were observed in TNFR1, DR3 and TNFBR; and in case of Fas, only seven (7) residues are highly conserved. From molecular phylogenetics, we found that DR5 and DR4, TNFR1 and DR3 and TNFR1 and DR3 had the same point of origin. Alternatively, Fas was found to be distant from the rest of the death receptors. A network map was developed to explain these proteins are not only interlinked among themselves, but also interlinked with several other proteins. We have also observed from this system that scores of all the nodes ranges from 0.996 to 0.999.
Insights
Human death receptors, crucial for apoptosis, show conserved cysteine residues. Phylogenetic analysis reveals distinct evolutionary paths, with Fas diverging significantly from other receptors.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Immunology
- Bioinformatics
Background:
- Death receptors, primarily from the tumor necrosis receptor superfamily, are key regulators of the extrinsic apoptosis pathway.
- Understanding their evolutionary relationships and conserved features is crucial for deciphering their roles in cellular processes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze conserved domains and amino acid residues in human death receptors.
- To investigate the molecular phylogenetic relationships among human death receptors.
- To map the interaction network of these receptors with other proteins.
Main Methods:
- Conserved domain analysis
- Amino acid residue analysis
- Molecular phylogenetics
- Network mapping
Main Results:
- Cysteine residues were found to be highly conserved across all analyzed death receptors.
- Specific numbers of highly conserved residues were identified for TNFR1, DR3, TNFBR (16), and Fas (7).
- Phylogenetic analysis indicated shared origins for DR4/DR5 and TNFR1/DR3, while Fas exhibited a distant evolutionary relationship.
- A network map demonstrated extensive interconnections between death receptors and other proteins, with high node scores (0.996-0.999).
Conclusions:
- Human death receptors share conserved structural and functional features, particularly cysteine residues.
- The evolutionary divergence of Fas suggests unique functional roles compared to other death receptors.
- Death receptors are integral components of complex cellular signaling networks involved in apoptosis.
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