Macromolecular Sequences in Systematic and Evolutionary Biology [Paperback]

I. Eutherian Phylogeny and Protein Evolution.- 1 Information for Molecular Studies from Anatomical and Fossil Evidence on Higher Eutherian Phylogeny.- 1. Introduction.- 2. A Historical Sketch.- 3. Eutherian Monophyly.- 4. Higher Level Eutherian Phylogeny.- 4.1. Edentata, Pholidota.- 4.2. Carnivora, Creodonta.- 4.3. Rodentia, Lagomorpha, Macroscelidea.- 4.4. Archontans and Insectivora.- 4.5. The Ungulate Radiation: Perissodactyla, Artiodactyla, Cetacea, Proboscidea, Tubulidentata, Hyracoidea, Sirenia.- 5. Divergence Times for Eutherian Orders.- 6. Eutherian Phylogeny, Fossil History, and Evolutionary Rates.- References.- 2 Evolution of Mammalian Pancreatic Ribonucleases.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Trees.- 2.1. Most Parsimonious Tree.- 2.2. Biologic Tree.- 3. Evolutionary Rates.- 4. Three-Dimensional Structure of Ribonuclease.- 5. Enzymic Activity on Low-Molecular-Weight Nucleotide Substrates and on RNA.- 6. Enzymic Activity on Double-Stranded RNA.- 7. Interaction with Inhibitor Proteins.- 8. Glycosylation and the Function of Carbohydrate.- References.- 3 Eye Lens Proteins and Vertebrate Phylogeny.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Comparative Anatomy and Evolution of the Lens.- 3. Comparative Studies of Lens Proteins.- 3.1. The Crystallins.- 3.2. Intraspecies Variation in Lens Proteins.- 3.3 Crystallin Variation between Species.- 4. Structural Analysis of ?-Crystallin.- 4.1. Isolation of ?-Crystallin.- 4.2. Electrophoresis of the ?-Crystallin Chains.- 4.3. Sequence Analysis of ?A Chains.- 4.4. Phylogenetic Reconstructions.- 5. Phylogenetic Inferences from ?-Crystallin A Sequences.- 5.1. Mammalian Phylogeny.- 5.2. Relationships among Vertebrate Classes and Subclasses.- 6. Molecular Aspects of ?-Crystallin Evolution.- 6.1. Parallel and Back Substitutions.- 6.2. Changes in Charge Are Avoided.- 6.3. Covarions.- 6.4. Variable Rates of Change and a Directional Trend in Substitutions.- 6.5. Unequal Distribution of Substitutions over the ?A Chain.- References.- 4 Amino Acid Sequence Evidl3