During the evolution of a gene family, gene duplication plays important roles in generating new members and creating novel gene functions, hence increasing numbers and diversifying functions of genes within a gene family [ 63, 64].
Thus, gene conversion provides a mechanism for limiting the divergence of functional regions of protein paralogs, while allowing other domains to evolve diversified functions.
MRG proteins are conserved during evolution in fungi, flies, mammals and plants, and they can exhibit diversified functions.
Riparian zones have diversified functions that include preserving bank stability, functioning as habitats for streamside living organisms and also playing a critical role in preserving the water quality of rivers by filtering out pollutants from runoff (Zainudin et al. 2013).
Through its catalytic activity, it exhibits diversified functions in cell type-specific manner, which have pathophysiological implications in cancer, obesity, inflammation and neurodegenerative diseases [4], [16] [17].
In the current study, four out of the seven immune parameters examined with the 2004 sample pertain to IFN-γ production, which may not be the best parameter, and definitely not the only parameter, for characterizing the highly diversified functions of lymphocytes.
Our findings show that protein paralogs with multiple functional domains can maintain common characteristics for specific domains by gene conversion, while allowing other domains to evolve diversified functions.
The LOX family has diversified functions in plants during vegetative growth and development, and contributes to formation of flavor and aroma compounds.
Indeed, highly diversified functions of plant peroxidases including regulation of H2O2 level, oxidation of various substrates, generation of ROS (coupled to oxidation of IAA, amines and SA) have been reported to date.
Thus, gene conversion may be a general mechanism that limits the divergence of critical regions in these proteins, while allowing other domains, such as the ligand binding domain, to evolve diversified functions.
