Author(s)

Vijay P. Boominathan, Tracie Ferreira

Department of Bioengineering, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, North Dartmouth, MA, USA.

Biological functions of proteins play a key role in the development of any organism. The gene tbx 22 is a member of a phylogenetically conserved family of genes, which share a common DNA binding domain: T box. This study examines the similarity in the developmental pattern influenced by the transcription factor TBX22 and tbx22 in H. sapiens and D. rerio respectively. Secondary and tertiary structures of the proteins are predicted using standard structure prediction software’s like Phyre 2, Predict Protein, SWISSMODEL, PSIPRED and the homology of the proteins were compared to each other. Protein homology prediction shows more than 65% between the 2 organisms. Superimposing the predicted protein structures reveals conserved domains between the human and zebrafish proteins. Additional supporting data from Genomatix MATBASE, MATINSPECTOR show higher matrix family scores for BRAC (Brachury gene mesoderm developmental factor) in Human and Zebrafish. Transcription factor and promoter element analysis with Transcriptome Viewer, Gene 2 Promoter and Genomeinspector reveal a high degree of homology between the 2 organisms. Bioinformatic-Proteomics and protein structural analysis approaches shown here explain in detail the relationship between the Human and Zebrafish tbx22 Gene-Protein-Transcrip- tion factor. These studies also support zebrafish as a predictive model for numerous developmental pattering events in higher vertebrates.

T-box, tbx22, Transcription Factors, Genomatix, Protein Prediction, Superimposed Models

Boominathan, V. and Ferreira, T. (2016) Predicting tbx22 Zebrafish Protein Structure Using Multi-Level Prediction Tools and Demonstration of Conserved Structural Domains in Relation to Orthologous tbx22 Proteins in Humans. Journal of Biosciences and Medicines, 4, 79-92. doi: 10.4236/jbm.2016.43014.