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Mar Genomics

Title:		"Coding genes and molecular structures of the diffusible signalling proteins (pheromones) of the polar ciliate, Euplotes nobilii"
Author(s):		Vallesi A; Alimenti C; Pedrini B; Di Giuseppe G; Dini F; Wuthrich K; Luporini P;
Address:		"Dipartimento di Scienze Ambientali e Naturali, University of Camerino, 62032 Camerino-MC, Italy"
Journal Title:		Mar Genomics
Year:		2012
Volume:		20120501
Issue:
Page Number:		9 - 13
DOI:		10.1016/j.margen.2012.03.004
ISSN/ISBN:		1876-7478 (Electronic) 1874-7787 (Linking)
Abstract:		"In protozoan ciliates, diffusible signalling proteins (pheromones) regulate the vegetative growth and mating interactions. Here, the coding genes and the structures of the encoded pheromones were studied in genetically distinct wild-type strains representing interbreeding Antarctic and Arctic populations of the marine ciliate Euplotes nobilii. Determination of seven allelic pheromone-coding DNA sequences revealed that an unusual extension and high structural conservation of the 5' non-coding region are peculiar traits of this gene family, implying that this region is directly involved in the mechanism of pheromone gene expression, possibly through phenomena of intron splicing and/or frame-shifting. For four pheromones, the three-dimensional structures were determined by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy in solution. These structures show that the pheromones represent a protein family which adapts to its polar environment by combining a structurally stable core of a three-helix bundle with extended polypeptide segments that are devoid of regular secondary structures and concomitantly show enhanced structural flexibility"
Keywords:		"Alleles Amino Acid Sequence Antarctic Regions Arctic Regions Base Sequence Euplotes/*genetics *Models, Molecular Molecular Sequence Data Pheromones/*chemistry/*genetics Protein Structure, Tertiary Protozoan Proteins/*chemistry/*genetics;"
Notes:		"MedlineVallesi, Adriana Alimenti, Claudio Pedrini, Bill Di Giuseppe, Graziano Dini, Fernando Wuthrich, Kurt Luporini, Pierangelo eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Netherlands 2012/12/04 Mar Genomics. 2012 Dec; 8:9-13. doi: 10.1016/j.margen.2012.03.004. Epub 2012 May 1"