introduction to protein domains
Protein domains are parts of a protein that fold independently from the rest of the protein and form their own structural units within the protein, usually having their own specialized function within the protein. Common protein domains include kinases (catalyze transfer of phosphate groups), DNA-binding domains (interact with DNA to change gene expression), and, like observed in the fumarylacetoacetase hydrolase (FAA) protein, hydrolase domains, which catalyze hydrolysis reactions. [1]
discusssion
The FAA Hydrolase N-terminus domain shown above is homologous across all of these model organisms and serves a similar function across the tree. The importance of this protein domain situated at the amino-terminal region is to serve as a region at the beginning of the protein sequence that is essential for the enzyme's catalytic activity, formerly explained as catalysis of a hydrolysis reaction that breaks down tyrosine. [3] The homologous domain present across all of these organisms shows its importance in catalyzing this reaction in all of these organisms and therefore highlighting how different organisms can be used to research this process to apply to humans.
references
[1] Protein domain. In Wikipedia. Retrieved 2024
[2] National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI)[Internet]. Bethesda (MD): National Library of Medicine (US), National Center for Biotechnology Information; [1988] – [2024]. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/
[3] The Pfam protein families database: R.D. Finn, A. Bateman, J. Clements, P. Coggill, R.Y. Eberhardt, S.R. Eddy, A. Heger, K. Hetherington, L. Holm, J. Mistry, E.L.L. Sonnhammer, J. Tate, M. Punta Nucleic Acids Research (2014) Database Issue 42:D222-D230
[2] National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI)[Internet]. Bethesda (MD): National Library of Medicine (US), National Center for Biotechnology Information; [1988] – [2024]. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/
[3] The Pfam protein families database: R.D. Finn, A. Bateman, J. Clements, P. Coggill, R.Y. Eberhardt, S.R. Eddy, A. Heger, K. Hetherington, L. Holm, J. Mistry, E.L.L. Sonnhammer, J. Tate, M. Punta Nucleic Acids Research (2014) Database Issue 42:D222-D230
This web page was produced as an assignment for Genetics 564, a capstone course at UW- Madison.