Authors
Abstract
Background and purpose : This study was aimed at detecting candidate protein (s) as a substrate for the drosophila gamma-carboxylase enzyme. Pro-peptide form of the candidates can be used for better gama carboxylation of proteins such as human FIX, that require gamma carboxylation for their activity .
Material and Methods: In this study nucleotide sequences of all proteins containing Gla region in human, drosophila and cone snail in the gene bank (NCBI) were used. Genomes screening was performed using the Blastn and Blastp programs. Pro-peptide and Gla region positions of all these proteins were determined using the BLAST program. In addition, other programs such as tblastn program (for predicting the presence of the same proteins), ProDom software (for finding candidate proteins containing Gla domain), PROSITE software (for detecting Drosophila proteins with similar pattern), Pfam and SMART programs (to assess the possible Gla region situation in the candidate proteins), were used.
Results: Screening of Drosophila genome data-base was not able to identify any Gla protein in Drosophila in any of fallowing consensus sequences : mammalian Gla domain, mammalian propeptide consensus sequence, mammalian propeptide pattern sequence and cone snail propeptide consensus sequence. However, screening of Drosophila database, using the propeptide sequences of individual Gla proteins in cone snail, has resulted the detection of at least 9 Gla proteins.
Conclusion: The Number and positions of carboxylation in these candidate proteins are similar to vertebrate Gla proteins. These results provide primary data toward selection of appropriate substrate from Drosophila Gamma–carboxylase.
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