Convergent evolution of domain architectures (is rare).
BACKGROUND
In this paper, we shall examine the evolution of domain architectures across 62 genomes of known phylogeny including all kingdoms of life. We look in particular at the possibility of convergent evolution, with a view to determining the extent to which the architectures observed in the genomes are due to functional necessity or evolutionary descent. We used domains of known structure, because from this and other information we know their evolutionary relationships. We use a range of methods including phylogenetic grouping, sequence similarity/alignment, mutation rates and comparative genomics to approach this difficult problem from several angles.


RESULTS
Although we do not claim an exhaustive analysis, we conclude that between 0.4 and 4% of sequences are involved in convergent evolution of domain architectures, and expect the actual number to be close to the lower bound. We also made two incidental observations, albeit on a small sample: the events leading to convergent evolution appear to be random with no functional or structural preferences, and changes in the number of tandem repeat domains occur more readily than changes which alter the domain composition.


CONCLUSIONS
The principal conclusion is that the observed domain architectures of the sequences in the genomes are driven by evolutionary descent rather than functional necessity.


BACKGROUND
gough@supfam.org.
Gough
Julian
J
RIKEN Genomic Sciences Centre, 1-7-22 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama 230-0045, Japan. gough@supfam.org
D017124:Conserved Sequence; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D014644:Genetic Variation / Q000235:genetics; D010802:Phylogeny; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D011506:Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics*; D016415:Sequence Alignment / Q000379:methods*; D020539:Sequence Analysis, Protein / Q000379:methods*; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship
D011506:Proteins