Molecular Biology and Evolution, Vol 15, 355-369, Copyright © 1998 by Society for Molecular Biology and Evolution
GB Golding and AM Dean
The study of molecular adaptation has long been fraught with difficulties,
not the least of which is identifying out of hundreds of amino acid
replacements those few directly responsible for major adaptations. Six
studies are used to illustrate how phylogenies, site- directed mutagenesis,
and a knowledge of protein structure combine to provide much deeper
insights into the adaptive process than has hitherto been possible. Ancient
genes can be reconstructed, and the phenotypes can be compared to modern
proteins. Out of hundreds of amino acid replacements accumulated over
billions of years those few responsible for discriminating between
alternative substrates are identified. An amino acid replacement of modest
effect at the molecular level causes a dramatic expansion in an ecological
niche. These and other topics are creating the emerging field of
"paleomolecular biochemistry."
REVIEW ARTICLE
The structural basis of molecular adaptation
Department of Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
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