A Phylogenetic Analysis of Two Intestinal Disaccharidases in Primates

Starch and sugar metabolism in mammals are driven by the actions of various endogenous enzymes. Previous research into the evolution of digestive enzymes involved in this process in human and non-human primates has primarily focused on the evolution of salivary amylase while analysis of selection in downstream intestinal glucosidases is comparatively lacking. Here, I present a phylogenetic-based exploration of patterns of protein evolution for two intestinal glucosidases, sucrase-isomaltase (SI) and maltase-glucoamylase (MGAM), across major clades of the primate phylogeny. My results indicate an overall trend of intensified selection for the SI gene in deeper time followed by mild relaxation of selection after recent speciation as compared to a trend of more recent selection along species branches in MGAM. My results also identified a number of sites within each protein along several lineages which may be potential targets for future analysis on functional differences in digestive capabilities and associations with dietary ecology.

Author

• Tjahjadi, Audrey

Language

• en

Keyword

• starch digestion
• dietary ecology
• biological anthropology
• primatology
• digestive enzyme
• evolutionary genetics

Date created

• 2021

Type of Work

• Master's Thesis

License

• All rights reserved

Rights statement

• In Copyright

GW Unit

• Human Paleobiology

Degree

• M.S.

Advisor

• Bradley, Brenda J

Committee Member(s)

• Crandall, Keith A

Persistent URL

•  https://scholarspace.library.gwu.edu/etd/r207tq10k