What is Protein Homology?
Homology refers to characteristics in different organisms that are similar because they were inherited by a common ancestor [1]. Protein homology identifies proteins across many species with similar structure or function based on conserved sequences in the amino acid sequence of the protein, like domains and motifs.
Homologs of Human (Homo sapiens) glyoxalase 1
Using the Homologene database on the NCBI website, homologs to the human glyoxalase 1 protein were identified by their conserved domain architecture. The results can be seen here. Select model organisms were then aligned with the human glyoxalase 1 using NCBI Basic Local Alignment Search Tool (BLAST). BLAST determines percent identity as well as similarity between amino acid sequence of two proteins. Identity is the percentage of exact amino acid matches between the human protein and the homologous protein, and similarity accounts for amino acids that behave similarly, though they might not be identical in the alignment.
Results and Discussion
Chimpavnzees, the most closely related species to humans from an evolutionary standpoint, resulted in the most conserved sequence of glyoxalase 1. All other observed mammals had similar results, similar to more than 94% (in mice). Members of other phyla and kingdoms resulted in less identical and similar sequences of homologs to glyoxalase 1.
Homologous Protein References:
Mouse (Mus musculus)Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana)Chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes)Yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) |
Fruit Fly (Drosophila melanogaster )Brown Rat (Rattus norvegicus)Cow (Bos taurus)Dog (Canis lupus familiaris) |
References
[1] "Tree of Life Web Project." Tree of Life Web Project. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Feb. 2013.
[2] Altschul S.F., Gish W., Miller W., Myers E.W. and Lipman D.J. (1990)
Basic local alignment search tool. J. Mol. Biol. 215: 403-410.
[2] Altschul S.F., Gish W., Miller W., Myers E.W. and Lipman D.J. (1990)
Basic local alignment search tool. J. Mol. Biol. 215: 403-410.
Site created by: Emma Baar
Last updated: 5-14-2013
University of Wisconsin - Madison
Last updated: 5-14-2013
University of Wisconsin - Madison