Richard Dickerson, Molecular Clocks, and Rates of Protein Evolution

Proteins approximately behave as molecular clocks, accumulating amino acid replacements at a more or less constant rate. Nonetheless, each protein displays a characteristic rate of evolution: whereas some proteins remain largely unaltered over large periods of time, others can rapidly accumulate amino acid replacements. An article by Richard Dickerson, published in the first issue of the Journal of Molecular Evolution (J Mol Evol 1:26-45, 1971), described the first analysis in which the rates of evolution of many proteins were compared, and the differences were interpreted in the light of their function. When comparing the sequences of fibrinopeptides, hemoglobin, and cytochrome c of different species, he observed a linear relationship between the number of amino acid replacements and divergence time. Remarkably, fibrinopeptides had evolved fast, cytochrome c had evolved slowly, and hemoglobin exhibited an intermediate rate of evolution. As the Journal of Molecular Evolution celebrates its 50th anniversary, I highlight this landmark article and reflect on its impact on the field of Molecular Evolution.

Medienart:

E-Artikel

Erscheinungsjahr:

2021

Erschienen:

2021

Enthalten in:

Zur Gesamtaufnahme - volume:89

Enthalten in:

Journal of molecular evolution - 89(2021), 3 vom: 17. Apr., Seite 122-126

Sprache:

Englisch

Beteiligte Personen:

Alvarez-Ponce, David [VerfasserIn]

Links:

Volltext

Themen:

Amino Acids
Evolutionary rate
Hemoglobins
Journal Article
Molecular clock
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
Richard Dickerson

Anmerkungen:

Date Completed 17.09.2021

Date Revised 17.09.2021

published: Print-Electronic

Citation Status MEDLINE

doi:

10.1007/s00239-020-09973-x

funding:

Förderinstitution / Projekttitel:

PPN (Katalog-ID):

NLM317725319