Unraveling microalgal molecular interactions using evolutionary and structural bioinformatics

Vlachakis D., Pavlopoulou A., Kazazi D., Kossida S.

GENE, vol.528, no.2, pp.109-119, 2013 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 528 Issue: 2
  • Publication Date: 2013
  • Doi Number: 10.1016/j.gene.2013.07.039
  • Journal Name: GENE
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.109-119
  • Keywords: Gene fusion, Gene fission, Homology modeling, Protein association, Microalgae, PROTEIN-PROTEIN INTERACTIONS, CYTOCHROME-C-OXIDASE, GENE FUSION, GENOME REVEALS, GLYCERALDEHYDE-3-PHOSPHATE DEHYDROGENASE, TRIOSEPHOSPHATE ISOMERASE, CYANIDIOSCHYZON-MEROLAE, 3-DIMENSIONAL STRUCTURE, SEQUENCE, ORIGIN
  • Dokuz Eylül University Affiliated: No

Abstract

Microalgae are unicellular microorganisms indispensible for environmental stability and life on earth, because they produce approximately half of the atmospheric oxygen, with simultaneously feeding on the harmful greenhouse gas carbon dioxide. Using gene fusion analysis, a series of five fusion/fission events was identified, that provided the basis for critical insights to their evolutionary history. Moreover, the three-dimensional structures of both the fused and the component proteins were predicted, allowing us to envisage putative protein-protein interactions that are invaluable for the efficient usage, handling and exploitation of microalgae. Collectively, our proposed approach on the five fusion/fission alga protein events contributes towards the expansion of the microalgae knowledgebase, bridging protein evolution of the ancient microalgal species and the rapidly evolving, modern, bioinformatics field. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.