What are Post Translational Modifications?
Post-translational modifications or PTM's for short are additions that are added to proteins after translation. These could range from phosphorylations of threonine, tyrosine or serine, to ubiquinations, methylations and/or acetylations. These modifications aid in protein structure, binding and receptors that provide residues for protein-protein interactions. The following images show the different phosphorylation sites of various proteins involved in my research [1]. All of the following images where also created on NetPhos 2.0. Learn more here.
C. Elegans Par-5 pHOSPHORYLATION Sites |
Human STRATIFIN pHOSPHORYLATION Sites |
Mouse 14-3-3sigma Phosphorylation sites |
Rhesus Monkey STRATIFIN Phosphorylation Sites |
Discussion
After the first four images show the phosphorylation sites of PAR-5 and its homologs show that they are almost identical. This is not a surprise, since this protein and its homologs are very well conserved. The bottom two images present the sirtuin homologs in humans and C.elegans, a protein that potentially binds to and interacts with PAR-5 and its human homologs 14-3-3sigma. For the most part, they share conserved phosphorylation sites, however they are not as well conserved as that of PAR-5, which also makes sense since the homologs of sirtuin have many different functions in many different organisms [2].
References:
[1] Nucleic Acids and Proteins in Plants, Encyclopedia of Plant Physiology Volume 14 / A, 1982, pp 136-168
[2] NAD-dependent protein deacetylase sirtuin-1. (n.d.). Retrieved May 18, 2015, from http://www.uniprot.org/uniprot/Q96EB6
[1] Nucleic Acids and Proteins in Plants, Encyclopedia of Plant Physiology Volume 14 / A, 1982, pp 136-168
[2] NAD-dependent protein deacetylase sirtuin-1. (n.d.). Retrieved May 18, 2015, from http://www.uniprot.org/uniprot/Q96EB6