Neurotrophins are structurally related proteins regulating brain development and function. Molecular evolution studies of neurotrophins and their receptors are essential for understanding the mechanisms underlying the coevolution processes of these gene families and how they correlate with the increased complexity of the vertebrate nervous system. In order to improve our current knowledge of the molecular evolution of neurotrophins and receptors, we have collected all information available in the literature and analyzed the genome database for each of them. Statistical analysis of aminoacid and nucleotide sequences of the neurotrophin and Trk family genes was applied to both complete genes and mature sequences, and different phylogenetic methods were used to compare aminoacid and nucleotide sequences variability among the different species. All collected data favor a model in which several rounds of genome duplications might have facilitated the generation of the many different neurotrophins and the acquisition of specific different functions correlated with the increased complexity of the vertebrate nervous system during evolution.We report findings that refine the structure of the evolutionary trees for neurotrophins and Trk receptors families, indicate different rates of evolution for eachmember of the two families, and newly demonstrate that the NGF-like genes found in Fowlpox and Canarypox viruses are closely related to reptile NGF.

Lanave, C., Colangelo, A., Saccone, C., Alberghina, L. (2007). Molecular evolution of the neurotrophin family members and their Trk receptors. GENE, 394(1-2), 1-12 [10.1016/j.gene.2007.01.021].

Molecular evolution of the neurotrophin family members and their Trk receptors

COLANGELO, ANNA MARIA;ALBERGHINA, LILIA
2007

Abstract

Neurotrophins are structurally related proteins regulating brain development and function. Molecular evolution studies of neurotrophins and their receptors are essential for understanding the mechanisms underlying the coevolution processes of these gene families and how they correlate with the increased complexity of the vertebrate nervous system. In order to improve our current knowledge of the molecular evolution of neurotrophins and receptors, we have collected all information available in the literature and analyzed the genome database for each of them. Statistical analysis of aminoacid and nucleotide sequences of the neurotrophin and Trk family genes was applied to both complete genes and mature sequences, and different phylogenetic methods were used to compare aminoacid and nucleotide sequences variability among the different species. All collected data favor a model in which several rounds of genome duplications might have facilitated the generation of the many different neurotrophins and the acquisition of specific different functions correlated with the increased complexity of the vertebrate nervous system during evolution.We report findings that refine the structure of the evolutionary trees for neurotrophins and Trk receptors families, indicate different rates of evolution for eachmember of the two families, and newly demonstrate that the NGF-like genes found in Fowlpox and Canarypox viruses are closely related to reptile NGF.
Articolo in rivista - Articolo scientifico
Bayesian inference; GTR substitution model; Gene family; Phylogenetic trees
English
9-feb-2007
394
1-2
1
12
none
Lanave, C., Colangelo, A., Saccone, C., Alberghina, L. (2007). Molecular evolution of the neurotrophin family members and their Trk receptors. GENE, 394(1-2), 1-12 [10.1016/j.gene.2007.01.021].
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/10281/10019
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