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Absence of protein polymorphism in the Ras genes of Drosophila melanogaster
journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-16, 23:59 authored by Robert GasperiniRobert Gasperini, Gibson, GSequence analysis of 27 alleles of each of the three Ras-related genes in Drosophila melanogaster indicates that they all have low levels of polymorphism but may experience slightly different evolutionary pressures. No amino acid replacement substitutions were indicated in any of the sequences, or in the sibling species D. simulans and D. mauritiana. The Dras1 gene, which is the major ras homologue in Drosophila, has less within-species variation in D. melanogaster relative to the amount of divergence from the sibling species than does Dras2, although the contrast was not significant by the HKA test. Dras2 appears to be maintaining two classes of haplotype in D. melanogaster, one of which is closer to the alleles observed in the sibling species, suggesting that this is not likely to be a pseudogene despite the absence of a mutant phenotype. Although differences in level of expression may affect the function of the genes, it is concluded that genetic variation in the Ras signal transduction pathways cannot be attributed to catalytic variation in the Ras proteins.
History
Publication title
Journal of Molecular EvolutionVolume
49Issue
5Pagination
583-590ISSN
0022-2844Department/School
Menzies Institute for Medical ResearchPublisher
SpringerPlace of publication
New YorkRepository Status
- Restricted