Although sequence divergence leads to structural divergence [21], protein structures retain clear similarity even past the point where sequence similarity becomes hard to detect [22], [23].
Therefore, protein 3D structure comparison becomes an important tool to analyze structural divergence and in turn functional divergence.
To understand the structural divergence of duplicated Populus SET gene pairs, we compared gene structures between the two recent paralogs in each of the 19 duplicated gene pairs.
The 3-D superimposition of protein structures obtained by using structure comparison tools is very useful in quantifying structural dissimilarity and in analyzing structural divergence.
Interesting examples of structural divergence are the A12.2 and C11 subunits of Pols I and III, respectively.
The kinetoplastid ribosome represents a potential therapeutic target due to its relative structural divergence when compared with its human counterpart.
Although most superfamilies are structurally conserved, in some of the most highly populated superfamilies (4% of all superfamilies) there is considerable structural divergence.
The structure of xylose reductase, combined with others in the superfamily provides an opportunity to examine and compare structural divergence as a function of sequence homology.
Despite sharing a highly conserved core architecture with their prokaryotic counterparts, eukaryotic multisubunit RNA polymerases (Pols) have undergone structural divergence and biological specialization.
We wanted to appreciate in detail the structural divergence of the RFs mediating various functional specificities.
Functional conservation acts as a strong restraint limiting sequence and, even more, structural divergence [57].
