title: Simulating evolution of protein complexes through gene duplication and co-option.
abstract: We present a model of the evolution of protein complexes with novel functions through gene duplication, mutation, and co-option. Under a wide variety of input parameters, digital organisms evolve complexes of 2-5 bound proteins which have novel functions but whose component proteins are not independently functional. Evolution of complexes with novel functions happens more quickly as gene duplication rates increase, point mutation rates increase, protein complex functional probability increases, protein complex functional strength increases, and protein family size decreases. Evolution of complexity is inhibited when the metabolic costs of making proteins exceeds the fitness gain of having functional proteins, or when point mutation rates get so large the functional proteins undergo deleterious mutations faster than new functional complexes can evolve.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Physics, Calvin College, Grand Rapids, MI 49546, United States. Electronic address: lhaarsma@calvin.edu.
authors.forename: Loren
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Haarsma
authors.affiliation: Departments of Computer Science, Calvin College, Grand Rapids, MI 49546, United States.
authors.forename: Serita
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nelesen
authors.affiliation: Departments of Computer Science, Calvin College, Grand Rapids, MI 49546, United States.
authors.forename: Ethan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: VanAndel
authors.affiliation: Departments of Computer Science, Calvin College, Grand Rapids, MI 49546, United States.
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lamine
authors.affiliation: Departments of Computer Science, Calvin College, Grand Rapids, MI 49546, United States.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: VandeHaar
mesh_terms: D003198:Computer Simulation; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D020440:Gene Duplication; D056084:Genetic Fitness; D016678:Genome; D046912:Multiprotein Complexes / Q000235:genetics*; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D011336:Probability; D011387:Prokaryotic Cells / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D046912:Multiprotein Complexes
keywords: Co-option; Complexity; Computer model; Digital organism; Evolution