Evidence for a Minimal Eukaryotic Phosphoproteome?

BACKGROUND: Reversible phosphorylation catalysed by kinases is probably the most important regulatory mechanism in eukaryotes. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We studied the in vitro phosphorylation of peptide arrays exhibiting the majority of PhosphoBase-deposited protein sequences, by factors in cell lysates from representatives of various branches of the eukaryotic species. We derived a set of substrates from the PhosphoBase whose phosphorylation by cellular extracts is common to the divergent members of different kingdoms and thus may be considered a minimal eukaryotic phosphoproteome. The protein kinases (or kinome) responsible for phosphorylation of these substrates are involved in a variety of processes such as transcription, translation, and cytoskeletal reorganisation. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: These results indicate that the divergence in eukaryotic kinases is not reflected at the level of substrate phosphorylation, revealing the presence of a limited common substrate space for kinases in eukaryotes and suggests the presence of a set of kinase substrates and regulatory mechanisms in an ancestral eukaryote that has since remained constant in eukaryotic life

Introduction

The presentation of papers in this volume follows the logical and chronological process in which knowledge produced by universities is subsequently exploited. Beginning with a consideration of the business idea recognition process Lucas, Cooper, and Rodriguez-Falcon in Chapter 2 seek to understand the psychological mechanisms that trigger the recognition of science and technology-based opportunities for new ventures. By a number of qualitative interviews at the University of Sheffield, and a survey of science and engineering students at four UK universities, this topic is explored as a major component of opportunity recognition. In Chapter 3, Warren conducts an in-depth examination of the nature and extent of work carried out by a PhD engineer involved in various phases of a high tech university “spin-off.” Through a qualitative case study she addresses the important impact that the creation of a university spin-out has on the career development of engineering researchers, which can hinder the spin-out process if not managed effectively