The structure of cytochromec and the rates of molecular evolution (original) (raw)

Summary

The x-ray structure analysis of ferricytochrome_c_ shows the reasons for the evolutionary conservatism of hydrophobic and aromatic side chains, lysines, and glycines, which had been observed from comparisons of amino acid sequences from over 30 species. It also shows that the negative character of one portion of the molecular surface is conserved, even though individual acidic side chains are not, and that positive charges are localized around two hydrophobic “channels” leading from the interior to the surface.

The reason for the unusual evolutionary conservation of surface features in cytochromes_c_ is probably the interaction of the molecule with two other large macromolecular complexes, its reductase and oxidase. This conservation of surface structure also explains the relatively slow rate of change of cytochrome_c_ sequences in comparison with the globins and enzymes of similar size.

The rate of evolution of a protein is the rate of occurrence of mutations in the genome modified by the probability that a random change in amino acid sequence will be tolerable in a functioning protein. The observed rates of change in fibrinopeptides, the globins, cytochrome_c_, and several enzymes are interpreted in terms of the proteins' biological roles.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Norman W. Church Laboratory of Chemical Biology, California Institute of Technology, 91109, Pasadena, California, USA
    Richard E. Dickerson
  2. Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, 91109, Pasadena, Calif., USA
    Richard E. Dickerson

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  1. Richard E. Dickerson
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Contribution No. 4114 from the Norman W. Church Laboratory of Chemical Biology, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91109.

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Dickerson, R.E. The structure of cytochrome_c_ and the rates of molecular evolution.J Mol Evol 1, 26–45 (1971). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01659392

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