title: Role of positive selection in functional divergence of mammalian neuronal apoptosis inhibitor proteins during evolution.
abstract: Neuronal apoptosis inhibitor proteins (NAIPs) are members of Nod-like receptor (NLR) protein family. Recent research demostrated that some NAIP genes were strongly associated with both innate immunity and many inflammatory diseases in humans. However, no similar phenomena have been reported in other mammals. Furthermore, some NAIP genes have undergone pseudogenization or have been lost during the evolution of some higher mammals. We therefore aimed to determine if functional divergence had occurred, and if natural selection had played an important role in the evolution of these genes. The results showed that NAIP genes have undergone pseudogenization and functional divergence, driven by positive selection. Positive selection has also influenced NAIP protein structure, resulting in further functional divergence.
authors: Department of Immunology & Laboratory Immunology, Center of Clinical Medicine and Laboratory, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu 212013, China.
authors: Fanzhi
authors: F
authors: Kong
authors: Zhaoliang
authors: Z
authors: Su
authors: Chenglin
authors: C
authors: Zhou
authors: Caixia
authors: C
authors: Sun
authors: Yanfang
authors: Y
authors: Liu
authors: Dong
authors: D
authors: Zheng
authors: Hongyan
authors: H
authors: Yuan
authors: Jingping
authors: J
authors: Yin
authors: Jie
authors: J
authors: Fang
authors: Shengjun
authors: S
authors: Wang
authors: Huaxi
authors: H
authors: Xu
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000235:genetics*; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D051616:Neuronal Apoptosis-Inhibitory Protein / Q000235:genetics*; D010802:Phylogeny; D011487:Protein Conformation; D011544:Pseudogenes / Q000235:genetics*; D051381:Rats; D012641:Selection, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship
chemical_list: D051616:Neuronal Apoptosis-Inhibitory Protein