Hi everyone,
I have analysed two genes localised next to each other in a phage. The analysis showed that the products of these two genes are interacting to each other to perform a specific function for the phage. I will refer to them as gene A and gene B based on their order in the genome of the phage.
What I found is that protein B was able to interact with protein A only when their coding genes (A and B) are cloned together (exactly as in the WT phage genome) into a plasmid under control of plasmid-encoded cadmium promoter.
However, protein B lost the ability to interact with protein A when protein B is over-expressed alone by the plasmid.
Indeed, when A and B both over-expressed by the vector, their ability to perform the function for the phage was very weak i.e. produced very few functional phage particles.
Any possible explanation for this behaviour please?
Cheers,
Perhaps each protein requires the other protein to be present during its biosynthesis in order to fold into the correct structure for the interaction.
Perhaps each protein requires the other protein to be present during its biosynthesis in order to fold into the correct structure for the interaction.
Thanks Adam, I agree that they might have an intimate transcription during their biosynthesis. However, do you have or know any similar examples that would help in understanding this behaviour?
A way to verify it is to denature the two proteins by, say urea, and refold them together by dialysis. Keep the molar ratio of the two proteins at 1:1 if the binding is 1/1.
Cydi from EZBiolab
Although I'm not a phage guy, I have examples from other living systems. In bacteria or even in some eukaryotes like Trypanosomes, the genes in a gene family or genes serve for a certain requirement during specific environmental pressure are clustered and transcribed together to fulfil a certain need at a specific stage, like evading host immune factors or secreting factors involved in pathogenesis.
Thanks a lot Ali!
That's really nice. In fact, I have found a third-party partner for these two genes. I think that these genes are forming a functional cluster, so I will need to use your examples as models to explain this behaviour if possible.
Cheers
The following review might be useful:
Article Clustering of functionally-related genes impacts significant...
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