This web page was produced as an assignment for Genetics 677, an undergraduate course at UW-Madison.
Homologs of androgen receptor (AR)
Summary of homologs
I used homologene (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/homologene) to identify homologous genes to the androgen receptor(AR) in humans. Pan troglodytes (chimpanzee) shares only 73% homology, which is unexpected as it is the closet living relative of human. However, it is most likely the result of a lack of sequencing and not divergence between the species. Canis lupus familias (dog), Mus musculus (mouse), Rattus norvegicus (rat), and Danio rerio (zebra fish) share 87%, 84%, 84%, and 67% respecitiviley with the human AR. The relatively high identity between that of the other mammilian species and us is expected, as they are more related to our species. The zebra fish identity of 67% reveals how conserved this gene is evolutionary. Sexual dimorphism is paramount to the survival of a sexually producing species.
Other organisms, such as C. elegans, reproduce either asexually or sexually. For this reason, they do not have an exact a homolog to AR. Using wormbase, however, I blasted the protein of AR to search for similar genes in C. elegans. In doing so, I identified a gene very similar to AR in humans, NHR-69 (expect=9e-22). NHR-69 is in the nuclear hormone receptor family. nhr-69 responds to hormonal signaling and is believed to act as a transcription factor (1). Because of it's similarity in function and unlikely identity by descent, this gene is not a homolog, but a similarly functioning gene. Note that it does not operate in determining sex.
In the following more detailed information regarding homologs, the graphs indicate the conservation of the sequence between species. More linear curves indicate higher relatedness within the protein sequence between the species.
Homo sapiens and Pan troglodytes (Chimpanzee)
Name unknown. Predicted to be similar to human AR by GNOMON.
Accession number: XP_001157062
Score = 204 bits (519), Expect = 6e-50
Identities = 97/132 (73%), Positives = 103/132 (78%), Gaps = 26/132 (19%)
Homo sapiens and Rattus norvegicus (rat)
Name: Androgen receptor
Accession number: NP_036634
Score = 1611 bits (4171), Expect = 0.0
Identities = 796/938 (84%), Positives = 832/938 (88%), Gaps = 54/938 (5%)
Homo sapiens and Gallus gallus (chicken)
Name: Androgen Receptor
Accession number: NP_001035179 XP_420163
Score = 838 bits (2164), Expect = 0.0
Identities = 472/803 (58%), Positives = 538/803 (66%), Gaps = 155/803 (19%)
Homo sapiens and Canis lupus familiaris (Dog)
Name: Androgen receptor
Accession number: NP_001003053
Score = 1657 bits (4290), Expect = 0.0
Identities = 822/939 (87%), Positives = 842/939 (89%), Gaps = 51/939 (5%)
Homo sapiens and Mus musculus (Mouse)
Name: Androgen receptor
Accession number: NP_038504
Score = 1601 bits (4146), Expect = 0.0
Identities = 790/936 (84%), Positives = 830/936 (88%), Gaps = 53/936 (5%)
Homo sapiens and Danio rerio (Zebra fish)
Name: Androgen receptor
Accession number: NP_001076592 XP_686520
Score = 575 bits (1481), Expect = 2e-161
Identities = 282/418 (67%), Positives = 337/418 (80%), Gaps = 9/418 (2%)
References
1. Mimoto, A., Fujii, M., Usami, M., Shimamura, M., Hirabayashi, N., Kaneko, T., Sasagawa, N., and Ishiura, S. (2008). Identification of estrogenic hormone receptor in Caenorhabditus elegans. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communication 364(4). doi: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2007.10.089
Website authored by Sam Trammell. Email: [email protected]. Last updated: February 28, 2009.
