Evolutionary Dynamics of the Alpha-actinin Gene Family
dc.contributor.author | Dixson, Jamie D. | |
dc.date.accessioned | 2020-04-27T14:27:12Z | |
dc.date.available | 2020-04-27T14:27:12Z | |
dc.date.issued | 2001-12 | |
dc.description.abstract | The alpha-actinin gene family is a member of the spectrin superfamily of proteins. Other members of this superfamily include the a- and ~-spectrins, ~heavy spectrin and dystrophin. Each member of this superfamily has a unique actin cross-linking distance consequent to the specific number of spectrin repeats within the central repeat region of the superfamily. Alpha-actinin is thought to be the least derived of the spectrin superfamily due to its possession of the smallest number of spectrin repeats. Though many a-actinins are known, the relationships among them are as yet undetermined. I performed phylogenetic analyses on a-actinin sequences to establish the kinship among a-actinin isoforms and to taxonomically treat the sequences. In addition, I sequenced and analyzed a previously unknown rat a-actinin 3. Analyses support four main isoforms of a-actinin. I also investigated homogenizing evolution within the spectrin repeats of the gene family. This was accomplished using gene conversion analyses and a new analysis which implements a continuum of the two known modes of homogenizing evolution: birth-and-death evolution and concerted evolution. This conceptual leap to a continuous model has not previously been made. Furthering these generalized studies of the a-actinin gene family, I used RT-PCR, cloning and automated DNA sequencing to obtain 77bp of sequence for what may be yet another member of the spectrin superfamily, the G3.5 antigen. | |
dc.description.department | Geography and Environmental Studies | |
dc.format | Text | |
dc.format.extent | 93 pages | |
dc.format.medium | 1 file (.pdf) | |
dc.identifier.citation | Dixson, J. D. (2001). Evolutionary dynamics of the alpha-actinin gene family (Unpublished thesis). Southwest Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas. | |
dc.identifier.uri | https://hdl.handle.net/10877/9739 | |
dc.language.iso | en | |
dc.subject | actin genes | |
dc.subject | spectrin | |
dc.title | Evolutionary Dynamics of the Alpha-actinin Gene Family | |
dc.type | Thesis | |
thesis.degree.department | Geography | |
thesis.degree.grantor | Southwest Texas State University | |
thesis.degree.level | Masters | |
thesis.degree.name | Master of Science |
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