Related Experiment Videos
Human aldehyde dehydrogenase gene family
A Yoshida1, A Rzhetsky, L C Hsu
1Beckman Research Institute of the City of Hope, Duarte, CA 91010, USA.
European Journal of Biochemistry
|March 7, 1998
Summary
Human aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) genes evolved from four ancient ancestors. Gene duplications and separations occurred over millions of years, shaping the ALDH enzyme family and its roles in metabolism.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Evolutionary Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- Twelve human aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) genes encode enzymes crucial for aldehyde oxidation.
- Mutations in specific ALDH genes are linked to metabolic disorders and clinical issues.
- Significant protein sequence divergence exists among human ALDH family members, yet conserved functional regions are present.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the evolutionary history and diversification of human aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) genes.
- To understand the ancestral origins and gene duplication events within the ALDH family.
Main Methods:
- Phylogenetic analysis using 56 ALDH sequences from diverse organisms (humans, animals, fungi, protozoa, eubacteria).
- Construction of neighbor-joining trees for human ALDHs and antiquitin to date diversification events.
Main Results:
- Human ALDH genes originated from four ancestral genes predating Eubacteria and Eukaryote divergence.
- Diversification within the ALDH1/2/5/6 gene cluster occurred approximately 800 million years ago (Neoproterozoic).
- Duplication in the ALDH 3/10/7/8 cluster happened around 300 million years ago (Phanerozoic), with further separations during mammalian evolution.
Conclusions:
- The human ALDH gene family has a deep evolutionary history, originating from ancient ancestors.
- Specific gene duplication and separation events correlate with major geological periods and the emergence of mammals.
- Understanding ALDH evolution provides insights into metabolic pathways and associated diseases.