Molecular Convergence of Infrared Vision in Snakes | Zendy

Shozo Yokoyama | Zendy; Ahmet Altun | Zendy; Dale F. DeNardo | Zendy

AI Assistant Blog Pricing

Home ZAIA Blog

Open Access

Molecular Convergence of Infrared Vision in Snakes

Author(s) -

Shozo Yokoyama,

Ahmet Altun,

Dale F. DeNardo

Publication year - 2010

Publication title -

molecular biology and evolution

Language(s) - English

Resource type - Journals

SCImago Journal Rank - 6.637

H-Index - 218

eISSN - 1537-1719

pISSN - 0737-4038

DOI - 10.1093/molbev/msq267

Subject(s) - biology , ankyrin repeat , amino acid substitution , amino acid , infrared , computational biology , evolutionary biology , transient receptor potential channel , zoology , gene , genetics , receptor , mutation , physics , optics

It has been discovered that the transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 (TRPA1) proteins of Boidae (boas), Pythonidae (pythons), and Crotalinae (pit vipers) are used to detect infrared radiation, but the molecular mechanism for detecting the infrared radiation is unknown. Here, relating the amino acid substitutions in their TRPA1 proteins and the functional differentiations, we propose that three parallel amino acid changes (L330M, Q391H, and S434T) are responsible for the development of infrared vision in the three groups of snakes. Protein modeling shows that the three amino acid changes alter the structures of the central region of their ankyrin repeats.

The content you want is available to Zendy users.

Already have an account? Click here to sign in.

Having issues? You can contact us here

Accelerating Research