| Title: | From molecules to mating: Rapid evolution and biochemical studies of reproductive proteins |
| Address: | "Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington, United States. Electronic address: dwilburn@u.washington.edu. Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington, United States" |
| DOI: | 10.1016/j.jprot.2015.06.007 |
| ISSN/ISBN: | 1876-7737 (Electronic) 1874-3919 (Print) 1874-3919 (Linking) |
| Abstract: | "Sexual reproduction and the exchange of genetic information are essential biological processes for species across all branches of the tree of life. Over the last four decades, biochemists have continued to identify many of the factors that facilitate reproduction, but the molecular mechanisms that mediate this process continue to elude us. However, a recurring observation in this research has been the rapid evolution of reproductive proteins. In animals, the competing interests of males and females often result in arms race dynamics between pairs of interacting proteins. This phenomenon has been observed in all stages of reproduction, including pheromones, seminal fluid components, and gamete recognition proteins. In this article, we review how the integration of evolutionary theory with biochemical experiments can be used to study interacting reproductive proteins. Examples are included from both model and non-model organisms, and recent studies are highlighted for their use of state-of-the-art genomic and proteomic techniques. SIGNIFICANCE: Despite decades of research, our understanding of the molecular mechanisms that mediate fertilization remain poorly characterized. To date, molecular evolutionary studies on both model and non-model organisms have provided some of the best inferences to elucidating the molecular underpinnings of animal reproduction. This review article details how biochemical and evolutionary experiments have jointly enhanced the field for 40 years, and how recent work using high-throughput genomic and proteomic techniques have shed additional insights into this crucial biological process" |
| Keywords: | "Animals *Evolution, Molecular Female Humans Male *Proteomics Reproduction/*physiology Evolution Fertilization Pheromones Reproduction Sexual selection;" |
| Notes: | "MedlineWilburn, Damien B Swanson, Willie J eng R01 HD076862/HD/NICHD NIH HHS/ T32 HG000035/HG/NHGRI NIH HHS/ R01HD076862/HD/NICHD NIH HHS/ T32HG000035/HG/NHGRI NIH HHS/ Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural Review Netherlands 2015/06/16 J Proteomics. 2016 Mar 1; 135:12-25. doi: 10.1016/j.jprot.2015.06.007. Epub 2015 Jun 11" |
