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Free for download until October 26: Paper on opsin (eye protein) evolution

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File:Rhodopsin 3D.jpeg
bovine rhodopsin

From the “five percent of an eye” files:

“Shedding new light on opsin evolution” (Proc. R. Soc. B, Oct 19, 2011) by Megan L Porter et al is free for download here until October 26, 2011:

Opsin proteins are essential molecules in mediating the ability of animals to detect and use light for diverse biological functions. Therefore, understanding the evolutionary history of opsins is key to understanding the evolution of light detection and photoreception in animals. As genomic data have appeared and rapidly expanded in quantity, it has become possible to analyse opsins that functionally and histologically are less well characterized, and thus to examine opsin evolution strictly from a genetic perspective. We have incorporated these new data into a large-scale, genome-based analysis of opsin evolution. We use an extensive phylogeny of currently known opsin sequence diversity as a foundation for examining the evolutionary distributions of key functional features within the opsin clade. This new analysis illustrates the lability of opsin protein-expression patterns, site-specific functionality (i.e. counterion position) and G-protein binding interactions. Further, it demonstrates the limitations of current model organisms, and highlights the need for further characterization of many of the opsin sequence groups with unknown function.

Hat tip: Pos-Darwinista

Comments
This pretty much says it all:
Further, it demonstrates the limitations of current model organisms, and highlights the need for further characterization of many of the opsin sequence groups with unknown function.
Translation, 'These opsin sequences are really out of whack to what we expected!' notes:
Evolution Vs. The Miracle Of The Eye - Molecular Animation - video http://www.metacafe.com/watch/4189562 Evolution vs The Eye - Miracle Or Mistake? - articles http://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=0AYmaSrBPNEmGZGM4ejY3d3pfMThmd25mdjRocQ
bornagain77
October 24, 2011
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