The evolution of eukaryotic genomes has been propelled by a series of gene duplication events, leading to an expansion in new functions and pathways. While duplicate genes may retain some functional redundancy, it is clear that to survive selection they cannot simply serve as a backup but rather must acquire distinct functions required for cellular processes to work accurately and efficiently. Understanding these differences and characterizing gene-specific functions is complex. Here we explore different gene pairs and families within the context of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), the main cellular hub of lipid biosynthesis and the entry site for the secretory pathway. Focusing on each of the ER functions, we highlight specificities of related proteins and the capabilities conferred to cells through their conservation. More generally, these examples suggest why related genes have been maintained by evolutionary forces and provide a conceptual framework to experimentally determine why they have survived selection.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1146/annurev-biochem-011520-104831 | DOI Listing |
J Biomol Struct Dyn
January 2025
College of Applied Medical Sciences, lmam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University (lAU), Dammam, Saudi Arabia.
The present study explores the conformational dynamics of the membrane protein of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) within the Endoplasmic Reticulum-Golgi Intermediate Compartment (ERGIC) complex using an all-atomistic molecular dynamics simulation approach. Significant structural changes were observed in the N-terminal, C-terminal, transmembrane, and beta-sheet sandwich domains of the MERS-CoV membrane protein. This study also highlights the structural similarities between the MERS-CoV and the SARS-CoV-2 membrane proteins, particularly in how both exhibit a distinct kink in the transmembrane helix caused by aromatic residue-lipid interactions.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAdv Sci (Weinh)
January 2025
Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, China Medical University, Shenyang, 110122, China.
Hydrogen sulfide (HS)-mediated protein S-sulfhydration has been shown to play critical roles in several diseases. Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are the predominant population of immune cells present within solid tumor tissues, and they function to restrict antitumor immunity. However, no previous study has investigated the role of protein S-sulfhydration in TAM reprogramming in breast cancer (BC).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Ethnopharmacol
January 2025
Laboratory of Clinical Pharmacokinetics, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China. Electronic address:
Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) poses significant health risks; however, effective treatment options remain scarce. Yinchen-Gancao decoction (YG, a formula composed of Traditional Chinese Medicine Artemisia capillaris Thunb. and Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInt Immunopharmacol
January 2025
School of Public Health, the key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Monitoring and Disease Control, Ministry of Education, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou, 561113, China. Electronic address:
Long-term silica exposure to silica dust leads to irreversible pulmonary fibrosis, during which lung fibroblast activation plays an essential role. Mitochondria-associated endoplasmic reticulum membranes (MAMs) is a structural interface for communication between the outer mitochondrial membrane and the endoplasmic reticulum. VAPB-PTPIP51 is a key complex on MAMs.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBiochemistry
January 2025
Molecular Biophysics Laboratory, Department of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Bhopal 462066, India.
The mitochondrial outer membrane (OMM) β-barrel proteins link the mitochondrion with the cytosol, endoplasmic reticulum, and other cellular membranes, establishing cellular homeostasis. Their active insertion and assembly in the outer mitochondrial membrane is achieved in an energy-independent yet highly effective manner by the Sorting and Assembly Machinery (SAM) of the OMM. The core SAM constituent is the 16-stranded transmembrane β-barrel Sam50.
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