Evolutionary selective pressure on three mitochondrial SNPs is consistent with their influence on metabolic efficiency in Pima Indians.
We investigated whether the effect of evolutionary selection on three recent Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) in the mitochondrial sub-haplogroups of Pima Indians is consistent with their effects on metabolic efficiency. The mitochondrial SNPs impact metabolic rate and respiratory quotient, and may be adaptations to caloric restriction in a desert habitat. Using TreeSAAP software, we examined evolutionary selection in 107 mammalian species at these SNPs, characterising the biochemical shifts produced by the amino acid substitutions. Our results suggest that two SNPs were affected by selection during mammalian evolution in a manner consistent with their effects on metabolic efficiency in Pima Indians.
Department of Integrative Biology, Brigham Young University, 699 WIDB, Provo, UT 84602, USA. srikarchamala@byu.edu
Srikar
S
Chamala
Wesley A
WA
Beckstead
Mark J
MJ
Rowe
David A
DA
McClellan
D025181:ATP Synthetase Complexes / Q000737:chemistry; D000596:Amino Acids / Q000737:chemistry; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000235:genetics*; D005006:Ethnicity; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D006801:Humans; D008660:Metabolism; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000378:metabolism*; D008958:Models, Molecular; D010802:Phylogeny; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D044382:Population Groups; D011312:Pressure; D012984:Software
D000596:Amino Acids; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial; D025181:ATP Synthetase Complexes