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The Evolution of Protein Phosphatases in Plants & Animals

Learning the insights of biology offers a perplexing conundrum. Although each answer found satisfies a question, it also usually opens up more questions than it answers. DNA converts into RNA, which then forms proteins. These proteins make up the parts of living creatures. Protein phosphatases play a critical role in the maintenance, as well as the altering, of proteins. Their evolution has been occurring for millions of years.

Phosphorylation
- Many proteins within the body are constantly in a state of flux. The same holds true for enzymes. Some of the changes people experience in terms of the body are due to phosphorylation---which consists of phosphate groups being attached and removed from proteins. The terms associated with these actions are known as "phosphorylation" for adding phosphate groups and "dephosphorylation" for removing phosphate groups. Protein phosphatases perform a unique responsibility in that they are a group of enzymes responsible for altering the phosphate groups on both proteins and other enzymes.
Types
- There are several types of protein phosphatases and scientists will likely stumble upon new types in years to come. One of the oldest types are protein tyrosine phosphatases---or PTP. Another---phosphoprotein phosphatase---functions specifically with serine and threonine, two enzymes within the body. Metallo-dependent protein phosphatase is also involved within catalytic enzyme functions within the body.
Earliest Evidence
- Evolution keeps essential ingredients within the body, while constantly altering them into different forms. Many bodily mechanisms---including protein phosphatases---change very little, as the role they play is critical. Protein phosphatases, specifically protein tyrosine phosphatases, are thought to not only have been around since the metazoan evolution, but to have played a critical role in the boom of plants and animals during this period.
Convergent Evolution
- Evolution offers many unusual patterns. Some of these patterns---such as convergent evolution---offer a glimpse into very important mechanisms within biological creatures. Convergent evolution occurs when traits independently evolve in different species and ultimately end up performing the exact same role. Convergent evolution can be seen in eyes, which evolved several different times in different species. Speculation also exists within the world of protein phosphatases that several varieties have evolved independently in both plants and animals.

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