Search results for " gene evolution"

GENE STRUCTURE, DIFFERENTIAL EXPRESSION AND PHYLOGENETIC ANALYSIS OF THE METALLOTHIONEIN GENE FAMILY OF THE SEA URCHIN PARACENTROTUS LIVIDUS

2017

Metallothioneins (MT) are small and cysteine-rich proteins that bind metal ions such as zinc, copper, cadmium, and nickel1. Several functions were proposed for these peptides, ranging from toxic metal protection to physiological metal homeostasis, free radical scavenging, oxidative stress protection, antiapoptotic defense, control of the redox status of the cell and also roles during development. Previously, we reported the identification of five different MT homologues (PlMT4-8) from the Mediterranean sea urchin species P. lividus2. In order to shed some light on MT gene structure and evolution, we cloned seven P. lividus MT genes, comparing them to Echinodermata and Chordata genes3. Moreo…