Predicting tbx22 Zebrafish Protein Structure Using Multi-Level Prediction Tools and Demonstration of Conserved Structural Domains in Relation to Orthologous tbx22 Proteins in Humans

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.