An Analysis of Ancestral Sequence Resurrection in the Context of Guanylate Kinase Evolution
Loading...
Date
2014-07
Authors
Campodonico-Burnett, William
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Oregon
Abstract
Ancestral sequence resurrection (ASR) is an important tool for studying
evolution on a molecular scale. The process takes a broad range of extant samples and,
using sequence alignment and evolutionary prediction algorithms, determines the most
likely sequence to have evolved into modern-day proteins. While ever-improving
technologies allow for increasingly reliable predictions, it is impossible to prove
whether a reconstruction is in fact the true ancestor. This project will analyze the
fidelity of the ASR process in the context of the divergence of enzymatically inactive
guanylate kinase-like binding domains and enzymatically active guanylate kinases from
a common ancestor. A maximum likelihood ancestor has already been predicted, so by
comparing relative enzymatic activity of this ancestor, a variety of mutants, Bayesian
predictions, and extant enzymes, we will be able to assess the validity of ASR for this
billion-year-old evolutionary event.
Description
43 pages. A thesis presented to the Department of Biochemistry and the Clark Honors College of the University of Oregon in partial fulfillment of the requirements for degree of Bachelor of Arts, Summer 2014.
Keywords
Biochemistry, Kinetics, Enzyme Kinetics, Guanylate Kinase, ASR, Ancestral Sequence, Enzyme Evolution