New Protein Super-Family Discovered With Critical Functions For Animal Life

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New Protein Super-Family Discovered With Critical Functions For

Animal Life

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=63031

Biologists have discovered a new super-family of developmental

proteins that are critical for cell growth and differentiation and

whose further study is expected to benefit research on cancer and

the nerve-cell repair. The protein super-family, which existed

before the emergence of animals about 850 million years ago, is of

major importance for understanding how life evolved in primordial

times. The discovery is described in the journal PLoS ONE.

" This super-family is highly divergent, even in animals with an

ancient lineage such as the sea anemone. This super-family also

evolves rapidly, so its proteins may provide a model system for

investigating how rapidly mutating genes contribute to, and are

likely necessary for, the diversity and adaptability of animal

life, " explains Penn State Assistant Professor Randen , the

senior author of the study. The new protein superfamily is

named " DANGER, " an acronym for " Differentiation and Neuronal Growth

Evolve Rapidly. "

The discovery was led by and Damian van Rossum, a

postdoctoral scholar at Penn State in University Park, Pennsylvania,

and collaborators at s Hopkins University in Baltimore,

land. " Most DANGER proteins have not been researched, but from

what little we do know these proteins, they are critical for cell

growth and differentiation, " van Rossum says.

Because so many genomes for diverse organisms have been sequenced

and annotated, the discovery of a new and deeply rooted protein

family is quite rare. The relationship of the six family members

comprising the DANGER super-family escaped detection due to the high

rates of mutations between family members, although a few family

members had been detected previously and had been shown to control

the differentiation of cells into organs in worms, fish, and mice.

Deletion of these their DANGER genes led to gross structural changes

and prenatal death.

These findings also have clinical relevance, according to the

researchers. " Many DANGER proteins are surrounded by transposable

elements, which are pieces of DNA around genes that help the genes

migrate back and forth throughout the genome, " says.

Because of this feature, DANGER genes can move throughout the

genome, which could have positive or negative health

consequences. " One member of the gene family resides in the genome

at an area responsible for a human disease, the -Magenis

syndrome, which results in severe physical and mental retardation, "

explains. " DANGER genes also contain transposable elements

that may participate in the genetic disturbances associated with

chronic myeleoid leukemia. "

One member of the super-family has been identified as playing a role

in the development of the nervous system. " In cell culture and

spinal cord neurons, the protein coded for by this gene stimulates

lengthening and branching of neurons, " says. Because many

other DANGER proteins also are expressed in neurons, discovering

their functions may be a key to deciphering the complexity of

neuronal growth and development.

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Disclaimer

The following press release refers to an article in PLoS ONE. The

release has been provided by the article authors and/or their

institutions. Any opinions expressed in this are the personal views

of the contributors, and do not necessarily represent the views or

policies of PLoS. PLoS expressly disclaims any and all warranties

and liability in connection with the information found in the

release and article and your use of such information.

In addition to and van Rossum, investigators in this study

include N. Nikolaidis and D. Chalkia at Penn State and D. N.

Watkins, R. K. Barrow, and S. H. Snyder at s Hopkins. The

research was supported by grants from the National Institutes of

Health and the Searle Foundation.

Citation: Nikolaidis N, Chalkia D, Watkins DN, Barrow RK, Snyder S,

et al (2007) Ancient Origin of the New Developmental Superfamily

DANGER. PLoS ONE 2(2): e204. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0000204