Lysozyme genes, evolution

Differences in the inferred phylogenetic histories of different portions of a gene have been used as evidence for concerted evolution involving part of a gene.35 A similar series of events may be occurring in ruminant lysozyme genes.11... 

In Section VII,B and Fig. 10 we compared the sequences of 13 a-lactalbumins (if the bovine A variant, equine B and C variants, and ovine variant are included), 23 mammalian c-type lysozymes (if donkey, mouse M, bovine stomach 1 and 3, caprine 1 and 2, ovine 1-3, camel 1, deer 2, echidna II, and porcine 1 and 2 are included), and 13 avian c-type lysozymes (if KDIII and PD2 and PD3 are included). Analysis of the sequence differences indicates that, with the recent considerable increase in the number of lysozymes sequenced, there has been an appreciable decrease in the numbers of residues that are invariant in lysozymes as well as for both proteins. Nevertheless, there is still significant overall homology (—35%) between a-lactalbumin and c-type lysozyme. From the similarities in amino acid sequences, three-dimensional structures, intron—exon patterns, etc., there can be little doubt that the concept of divergence is still valid for these proteins. What is controversial are the rate of evolution and the details of the way in which ct-lactalbumin arose, although it is conceded generally that the mechanism involves gene duplication. 

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