This web page was produced as an assignment for Gen677 at UW-Madison Spring 2013
What is Gene Ontology?
Gene ontology (GO) is a major effort in the biological sciences community to create a list of terms describing gene and protein attributes and functions that is standardized across different species and databases [1]. Having a standardized vocabulary of descriptive terms makes communication between different researchers and groups simpler, faster and more productive.
There are three categories of gene ontology: cellular component, molecular function and biological process [1]. Cellular component ontology includes the different parts of the cell along with its extracellular environment [1]. Molecular function ontology is the different activities a gene product is involved in [1]. Finally, biological process ontology is the molecular events with defined beginnings and ends that a gene product is involved in [1]. Gene ontology lists can be accessed using sites such as AmiGO or QuickGO [1,2].
There are three categories of gene ontology: cellular component, molecular function and biological process [1]. Cellular component ontology includes the different parts of the cell along with its extracellular environment [1]. Molecular function ontology is the different activities a gene product is involved in [1]. Finally, biological process ontology is the molecular events with defined beginnings and ends that a gene product is involved in [1]. Gene ontology lists can be accessed using sites such as AmiGO or QuickGO [1,2].
The Onotology of MYO5a
The following is a list of the key GO terms in each ontology catagory assocaited with MYO5a complied using Amigo [1]. A full list of terms can be found Here.
Cellular Component
|
|
MYO5a Protein FunctionThe following are three examples of gene ontology flow charts for the three different categories of gene ontology.
The biological process flowchart seed in Figure 1 shows synaptic transmission. Synaptic transmission is a critical process in neuron communication in both the peripheral and central nervous systems [3]. A disruption in the transmission is believe to cause the neurologic symptoms associated with MYO5a mutation diseases [4]. The loss of synaptic transmission resulting from MYO5a mutations takes place in the neuronal cell body and this is represent in the cellular component flowchart seen in Figure 2 [4]. The molecular function flowchart in Figure 3 shows actin binding, the fundamental activity that MYO5a is involved in. It is MYO5a's ability to bind to actin that allows it to transport different kinds of cellular cargo around the cell [4]. |
Analysis and Discussion
The gene ontology of MYO5a emphasizes the already known functions of MYO5a in intracellular transport in melanocytes and neurons. These functions of MYO5a has been well studied in melocytes but little study has been done in neurons. A significant portion of the gene ontology for MYO5a is related to neuron function and activity, demonstrating the importance of MYO5a in neurons and the need for further study in this area.
References
[1] AmiGO: The Gene Ontology. MYO5a. Retreved March 16, 2013, from http://amigo.geneontology.org/cgi-bin/amigo/browse.cgi?action=set-tree&term=GO:0030048&session_id=1675amigo1363455979
[2] QuickGO: A fast browser for Gene Ontology terms and annotations. Retrieved May 14, 2013 from http://www.ebi.ac.uk/QuickGO/
[3] Holz RW, and Fisher SK. Synaptic Transmission. In: Siegel CJ, Agranoff BW, Albers RW, el al., editors. Basic Neurochemistry: Molecular, Cellular and Medical Aspects. 6th edition. Philadelphia: Lippincott-Raven; 1999. Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK27911/
[4] Desnos C, Huet S, Darchen F. (2007). "Should I stay or should I go?": myosin V function in organelle trafficking. Biol Cell 99:411-423.
[2] QuickGO: A fast browser for Gene Ontology terms and annotations. Retrieved May 14, 2013 from http://www.ebi.ac.uk/QuickGO/
[3] Holz RW, and Fisher SK. Synaptic Transmission. In: Siegel CJ, Agranoff BW, Albers RW, el al., editors. Basic Neurochemistry: Molecular, Cellular and Medical Aspects. 6th edition. Philadelphia: Lippincott-Raven; 1999. Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK27911/
[4] Desnos C, Huet S, Darchen F. (2007). "Should I stay or should I go?": myosin V function in organelle trafficking. Biol Cell 99:411-423.
Rebecca Blackburn, [email protected], 5/14/13