Absence of N-terminal acetyltransferase diversification during evolution of eukaryotic organisms

Rathore, Om; Faustino, Alexandra; Prudencio, Pedro; Van Damme, Petra; Cox, C. J.; Martinho, Rui Goncalo

http://hdl.handle.net/10400.1/9625

Use this identifier to reference this record.

Name:	Description:	Size:	Format:
handle9625.pdf		2.15 MB	Adobe PDF	Download

Send Feedback

Authors

Martinho, Rui Goncalo

Abstract(s)

Protein N-terminal acetylation is an ancient and ubiquitous co-translational modification catalyzed by a highly conserved family of N-terminal acetyltransferases (NATs). Prokaryotes have at least 3 NATs, whereas humans have six distinct but highly conserved NATs, suggesting an increase in regulatory complexity of this modification during eukaryotic evolution. Despite this, and against our initial expectations, we determined that NAT diversification did not occur in the eukaryotes, as all six major human NATs were most likely present in the Last Eukaryotic Common Ancestor (LECA). Furthermore, we also observed that some NATs were actually secondarily lost during evolution of major eukaryotic lineages; therefore, the increased complexity of the higher eukaryotic proteome occurred without a concomitant diversification of NAT complexes.