Secondary structure formations of conotoxin genes: A possible role in mediating variability

Dewan, Kalyan Kumar (2006) Secondary structure formations of conotoxin genes: A possible role in mediating variability. In: Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, 349 (2). pp. 701-708.

PDF conotoxin.pdf Restricted to Registered users only Download (590kB) | Request a copy

Abstract

Small venomous peptides called conotoxins produced by the predatory marine snail (genus Conus) present an interesting case for mutational studies. They have a high degree of amino acid variability among them yet they possess highly conserved structural elements that are defined by cysteine residues forming disulfide bridges along the length of the mature peptide. It has been observed that codons specifying these cysteines are also highly conserved. It is unknown how such codon conservation is maintained within the mature conotoxin gene since this entire region undergoes an accelerated rate of mutation. There is evidence suggesting that nucleic acids wield some influence in mechanisms that dictate the region and frequency where mutations occur in DNA. Nucleic acids exert this effect primarily through secondary structures that bring about local peaks and troughs in the energy relief of these transient formations. Secondary structure predictions of several conotoxin genes were analyzed to see if there was any correspondence between the highly variable regions of the conotoxin. Regions of the DNA encompassing the conserved Cys codons (and several other conserved amino acid codons) have been found to correspond to predicted secondary structures of higher stabilities. In stark contrast the regions of the conotoxin that have a higher degree of variation correlate to regions of lower stability. This striking co-relation allows for a simple model of inaccessibility of a mutator to these highly conserved regions of the conotoxin gene allowing them a relative degree of resistance towards change.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Publication:	Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications
Publisher:	Elsevier
Additional Information:	Copyright of this article belongs to Elsevier.
Keywords:	Secondary structures;Mutation;Conotoxins;Conservation;Variability
Department/Centre:	Division of Biological Sciences > Biochemistry Division of Biological Sciences > Molecular Reproduction, Development & Genetics
Date Deposited:	25 Jun 2008
Last Modified:	31 Jan 2019 10:01
URI:	http://eprints.iisc.ac.in/id/eprint/14038

Actions (login required)

View Item