Systematic analysis of insertions and deletions specific to nematode proteins and their proposed functional and evolutionary relevance
2009

Analysis of Unique Protein Changes in Nematodes

Sample size: 32 publication Evidence: high

Author Information

Author(s): Wang Zhengyuan, Martin John, Abubucker Sahar, Yin Yong, Gasser Robin B, Mitreva Makedonka

Primary Institution: The Genome Center, Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine

Hypothesis

The study investigates the significance of amino acid insertions and deletions in nematode proteins and their evolutionary implications.

Conclusion

The research highlights the role of unique molecular changes in nematodes that may be linked to their adaptation and evolution.

Supporting Evidence

  • The study identified over 10,000 deletions and 3,500 insertions unique to nematode proteins.
  • Deletions were found to be longer on average than insertions.
  • More insertions and deletions were associated with proteins involved in endocrine and immune systems.

Takeaway

Scientists looked at tiny changes in proteins from different types of roundworms to see how these changes help them survive and adapt to their environments.

Methodology

The study involved a systematic analysis of over 214,000 polypeptides from 32 nematode species, comparing them with proteins from other eukaryotic organisms to identify unique insertions and deletions.

Potential Biases

Potential bias due to the reliance on available sequences from specific nematode species.

Limitations

The study primarily focused on transcriptomic data, which may not represent all gene classes adequately.

Participant Demographics

The study analyzed proteins from 32 nematode species, including both free-living and parasitic types.

Statistical Information

P-Value

p<0.0001

Statistical Significance

p<0.0001

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1186/1471-2148-9-23

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