Protein dispensability and rate of evolution

摘要: If protein evolution is due in large part to slightly deleterious amino acid substitutions, then the rate of should be greater proteins that contribute less individual fitness. The rationale for this prediction relatively dispensable subject weaker purifying selection, and therefore accumulate mildly substitutions more rapidly. Although argument was presented over twenty years ago, fundamental many applications evolutionary theory, has proved difficult confirm. In fact, a recent study showed essential mouse genes do not evolve slowly than non-essential ones. Thus, although variety factors influencing have been supported by extensive sequence analysis, relationship between dispensability remained unconfirmed. Here we use results from highly parallel growth assay single gene deletions yeast assess dispensability, which relate estimates are based on comparisons sequences drawn twenty-one fully annotated genomes. Our analysis reveals significant rate, explains why detectable categorical comparison versus proteins. conserved, so also predictive nematode worm.