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Functional genomics reveals a family of eukaryotic oxidation protection genes.

ABSTRACT: Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are toxic compounds produced by normal metabolic processes. Their reactivity with cellular components is a major stress for aerobic cells that results in lipid, protein, and DNA damage. ROS-mediated DNA damage contributes to spontaneous mutagenesis, and cells deficient in repair and protective mechanisms have elevated levels of spontaneous mutations. In Escherichia coli a large number of genes are involved in the repair of oxidative DNA damage and its prevention by detoxification of ROS. In humans, the genes required for these processes are not well defined. In this report we describe the human OXR1 (oxidation resistance) gene discovered in a search for human genes that function in protection against oxidative damage. OXR1 is a member of a conserved family of genes found in eukaryotes but not in prokaryotes. We also outline the procedures developed to identify human genes involved in the prevention and repair of oxidative damage that were used to identify the human OXR1 gene. This procedure makes use of the spontaneous mutator phenotype of E. coli oxidative repair-deficient mutants and identifies genes of interest by screening for antimutator activity resulting from cDNA expression.

SUBMITTER: Volkert MR

PROVIDER: S-EPMC18953 | biostudies-literature | 2000 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Functional genomics reveals a family of eukaryotic oxidation protection genes.

Volkert M R MR Elliott N A NA Housman D E DE

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 20001201 26

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are toxic compounds produced by normal metabolic processes. Their reactivity with cellular components is a major stress for aerobic cells that results in lipid, protein, and DNA damage. ROS-mediated DNA damage contributes to spontaneous mutagenesis, and cells deficient in repair and protective mechanisms have elevated levels of spontaneous mutations. In Escherichia coli a large number of genes are involved in the repair of oxidative DNA damage and its prevention by ...[more]

PMID: 11114193

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Project description:BACKGROUND: The ferlin gene family possesses a rare and identifying feature consisting of multiple tandem C2 domains and a C-terminal transmembrane domain. Much currently remains unknown about the fundamental function of this gene family, however, mutations in its two most well-characterised members, dysferlin and otoferlin, have been implicated in human disease. The availability of genome sequences from a wide range of species makes it possible to explore the evolution of the ferlin family, providing contextual insight into characteristic features that define the ferlin gene family in its present form in humans. RESULTS: Ferlin genes were detected from all species of representative phyla, with two ferlin subgroups partitioned within the ferlin phylogenetic tree based on the presence or absence of a DysF domain. Invertebrates generally possessed two ferlin genes (one with DysF and one without), with six ferlin genes in most vertebrates (three DysF, three non-DysF). Expansion of the ferlin gene family is evident between the divergence of lamprey (jawless vertebrates) and shark (cartilaginous fish). Common to almost all ferlins is an N-terminal C2-FerI-C2 sandwich, a FerB motif, and two C-terminal C2 domains (C2E and C2F) adjacent to the transmembrane domain. Preservation of these structural elements throughout eukaryotic evolution suggests a fundamental role of these motifs for ferlin function. In contrast, DysF, C2DE, and FerA are optional, giving rise to subtle differences in domain topologies of ferlin genes. Despite conservation of multiple C2 domains in all ferlins, the C-terminal C2 domains (C2E and C2F) displayed higher sequence conservation and greater conservation of putative calcium binding residues across paralogs and orthologs. Interestingly, the two most studied non-mammalian ferlins (Fer-1 and Misfire) in model organisms C. elegans and D. melanogaster, present as outgroups in the phylogenetic analysis, with results suggesting reproduction-related divergence and specialization of species-specific functions within their genus. CONCLUSIONS: Our phylogenetic studies provide evolutionary insight into the ferlin gene family. We highlight the existence of ferlin-like proteins throughout eukaryotic evolution, from unicellular phytoplankton and apicomplexan parasites, through to humans. We characterise the preservation of ferlin structural motifs, not only of C2 domains, but also the more poorly characterised ferlin-specific motifs representing the DysF, FerA and FerB domains. Our data suggest an ancient role of ferlin proteins, with lessons from vertebrate biology and human disease suggesting a role relating to vesicle fusion and plasma membrane specialization.

Dataset Information

Functional genomics reveals a family of eukaryotic oxidation protection genes.

Publications

Functional genomics reveals a family of eukaryotic oxidation protection genes.

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