title: Loss of DNA: a plausible molecular level explanation for crustacean neuropeptide gene evolution.
abstract: Alignment of nucleotides of APGWamide, RPCH and AKH genes gives region stretches (common regions) present in all family member variants. Common regions were separated by gap sections in the larger variants of family members. Consensus sequences for single polynucleotides from virtual hybrid molecules of DNA were obtained by joining the common regions of DNA and deleting the extra DNA nucleotides. Conceptual translation of these virtual hybrids resulted in polypeptides similar to APGWamide, RPCH and the AKH pre-pro-peptide. Virtual polypeptides were also similar to LWamide and RFamide along hydras to mammals. DNA loss probably explains the origin of neuropeptides.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Genética y Biología Molecular, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del I.P.N., Apartado Postal 14-740, México D.F. 07000, México.
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Martínez-Pérez
authors.forename: Darinka
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Durán-Gutiérrez
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Delaye
authors.forename: Arturo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Becerra
authors.forename: Guadalupe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Aguilar
authors.forename: Samuel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zinker
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D003445:Crustacea / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics*; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D016366:Open Reading Frames / Q000235:genetics; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D017384:Sequence Deletion
chemical_list: D009479:Neuropeptides; D004247:DNA