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Protein evolution and its analytical potential

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 December 2011

Mark J. Dufton
Mark J. Dufton
Affiliation:
Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry, University of Strathclyde, Thomas Graham Building, 295 Cathedral Street, Glasgow G1 1XL, U.K.
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Synopsis:

With the recent advances in gene technology, a substantial premium has been placed on the ability to predict protein structure and mechanism from sequence data alone. This is because the direct experimental approaches are more time and labour intensive, and progress is slower. One area of theoretical investigation which has a clear potential to assist in predictive exercises is the natural evolution of protein structure and sequence.

Some aspects of protein evolution, such as the fact that homology of sequence often denotes common ancestry, are routinely considered in predicting three-dimensional structure and mechanism. However, there are other aspects to this natural process which are either not realised or are not appreciated as potential analytical tools.

This article introduces the different ways protein evolution can be investigated and indicates developing techniques as well as those already well established.

Type
Research Article
Information
Proceedings of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, Section B: Biological Sciences , Volume 99 , Issue 1-2: The Advancement of Drug Discovery , 1992 , pp. 113 - 121
Copyright
Copyright © Royal Society of Edinburgh 1992

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