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The superfamily of thaumatin-like proteins: its origin, evolution, and expression towards biological function

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Abstract

Thaumatin-like proteins (TLPs) are the products of a large, highly complex gene family involved in host defence and a wide range of developmental processes in fungi, plants, and animals. Despite their dramatic diversification in organisms, TLPs appear to have originated in early eukaryotes and share a well-defined TLP domain. Nonetheless, determination of the roles of individual members of the TLP superfamily remains largely undone. This review summarizes recent advances made in elucidating the varied TLP activities related to host resistance to pathogens and other physiological processes. Also discussed is the current state of knowledge on the origins and types of TLPs, regulation of gene expression, and potential biotechnological applications for TLPs.

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Abbreviations

AFP:

Anti-freeze protein

GPCRs:

G protein-coupled receptors

MYA:

Million years ago

OLP:

Osmotin-like protein

PR:

Pathogenesis-related

PR5:

Family 5 of pathogenesis-related proteins

PR5K:

PR5-like kinase

TLP:

Thaumatin-like protein

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Acknowledgments

This work is supported in part by the Canadian Forest Service and the CFS-Genome R&D Initiative.

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  1. Natural Resources Canada, Canadian Forest Service, Pacific Forestry Centre, 506 West Burnside Road, Victoria, BC, V8Z 1M5, Canada

    Jun-Jun Liu, Rona Sturrock & Abul K. M. Ekramoddoullah

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  1. Jun-Jun Liu
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Correspondence to Jun-Jun Liu.

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Communicated by R. Reski.

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Liu, JJ., Sturrock, R. & Ekramoddoullah, A.K.M. The superfamily of thaumatin-like proteins: its origin, evolution, and expression towards biological function. Plant Cell Rep 29, 419–436 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00299-010-0826-8

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