WHEATLY, M. G.; GAO, Y; Wright State Univ., Dayton: The molecular biology of ion motive enzymes: lessons learned from comparative models

Movement of ions across epithelial membranes involves an array of proteins broadly grouped into channels, pumps, antiporters and cotransporters. The molecular technologies have impacted the field of comparative ion transport. Over the past decade there has been an exponential rise in the number of non-mammalian sequences added yearly to the gene bank. Some of these sequences have originated from model genetic species (fly, worm, zebra fish); others have emerged from non-mammalian models that have traditionally informed the field of ion transport. This presentation will attempt to achieve two objectives: (1) to document the existing status of sequences for ion motive proteins in non-mammalian species and (2) to explore the promise of comparative models in furthering our understanding of the molecular evolution of critical ion transport gene families. Examples will be provided of comparative sequences leading to human sequences and vice versa. The value of comparative species that are not genetic models will be explored. In-depth case studies will be presented to illustrate the utility of sequence data from both genetic models and non-genetic model species in informing biomedicine. This study was supported by NSF grant IBN 0076035 to MGW.