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The Biological and Biomedical Consequences of Protein Moonlighting

An evolutionary perspective on protein moonlighting

Shelley D. Copley
Biochemical Society Transactions Nov 17, 2014, 42 (6) 1684-1691; DOI: 10.1042/BST20140245
Shelley D. Copley
Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology and Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80027, U.S.A.
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  • For correspondence: shelley.copley@Colorado.edu
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Abstract

Moonlighting proteins serve one or more novel functions in addition to their canonical roles. Moonlighting functions arise when an adventitious interaction between a protein and a new partner improves fitness of the organism. Selective pressure for improvement in the new function can result in two alternative outcomes. The gene encoding the newly bifunctional protein may duplicate and diverge so as to encode two proteins, each of which serves only one function. Alternatively, genetic changes that minimize adaptive conflict between the two functions and/or improve control over the time and place at which each function is served can lead to a moonlighting protein. Importantly, genetic changes that enhance a moonlighting function can occur in the gene encoding the moonlighting protein itself, in a gene that affects the structure of its new partner or in a gene encoding a transcription factor that controls expression of either partner. The evolutionary history of each moonlighting protein is complex, depending on the stochastic occurrence of genetic changes such as gene duplication and point mutations, and the effects of those changes on fitness. Population effects, particularly loss of promising individuals due to random genetic drift, also play a role in the emergence of a moonlighting protein. The ultimate outcome is not necessarily the ‘optimal’ solution to the problem of serving two functions, but may be ‘good enough’ so that fitness becomes limited by some other function.

  • adaptive conflict
  • bifunctional protein
  • evolution
  • gene duplication
  • moonlighting

Footnotes

  • The Biological and Biomedical Consequences of Protein Moonlighting: A Biochemical Society Focused Meeting held at Charles Darwin House, London, U.K., 29–30 July 2014. Organized and Edited by Brian Henderson and Andrew Martin (University College London, U.K.).

  • © The Authors Journal compilation © 2014 Biochemical Society
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December 2014

Volume: 42 Issue: 6

Biochemical Society Transactions: 42 (6)
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An evolutionary perspective on protein moonlighting
Shelley D. Copley
Biochemical Society Transactions Dec 2014, 42 (6) 1684-1691; DOI: 10.1042/BST20140245
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An evolutionary perspective on protein moonlighting
Shelley D. Copley
Biochemical Society Transactions Dec 2014, 42 (6) 1684-1691; DOI: 10.1042/BST20140245

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  • Article
    • Abstract
    • Introduction
    • Acquisition of a new function
    • A framework for thinking about the evolutionary fate of a newly bifunctional protein
    • The frequencies and fitness effects of gene duplications
    • The frequency and fitness effects of mutations
    • Which trajectory?
    • Why proteins acquire different moonlighting functions in different lineages
    • Moonlighting is favoured when gene duplication is detrimental
    • Moonlighting may be favoured when there is no adaptive conflict between the functions of a bifunctional protein
    • Moonlighting may be favoured when the two functions of a bifunctional protein are complementary
    • Duplication and divergence is favoured when the adaptive conflict between two functions cannot be easily solved in the context of a single protein
    • Moonlighting and duplication and divergence are not necessarily mutually exclusive solutions
    • Conclusion
    • Funding
    • Footnotes
    • References
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Keywords

adaptive conflict
bifunctional protein
evolution
gene duplication
moonlighting

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