Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UNIPROT:Q3V6T2 (ape)
 2,133 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Original data about venous channels in South African Plio-Pleistocene hominids are discussed. To assess possible changes in blood volume flow of fossil hominids, we test whether dimensions of three extracranial venous foramina were different between Australopithecus africanus and Australopithecus (Paranthropus) robustus. Moreover, providing further data about the small sample of South African Plio-Pleistocene hominids, we also attempt to re-analyse the incidence of divided hypoglossal canals and four emissary foramina in a very large sample of extant African apes representing all ages, species and subspecies, in A. africanus and in "robust australopithecines". Up to now, only very poor data on extracranial dimensions of venous foramina were available for fossil hominids. However, this topic provides interesting information about the modifications of volume flow during human evolution. Assuming that in fossil hominids, as in humans, dimensions of condylar and mastoid foramina, as well as those of jugular foramina, depended on volume flow through them, we conclude, first, that volume flow through internal jugular veins was comparable in South African australopithecines, extant chimpanzees and humans, and second, that, in comparison with the extant less-encephalized chimpanzees (presumably reflecting the ancestral condition), volume flow was higher through condylar veins in A. (P.) robustus. This increase was responsible for a significantly greater amount of blood drainage from the brain (and consequently an increased arterial blood supply). We support the view that encephalization was the prevailing functional explanation for volume flow increase through condylar veins in A. (P.) robustus, in comparison with its ancestor with its presumably more ape-like degree of encephalization. Considering the incidence of emissary canals and foramina, significant differences between A. africanus, "robust australopithecines" and all the extant African ape species, were tested statistically. Concerning the condylar canal, we did not find differences between "robust australopithecines" and extant African apes. Concerning the incidence of divided hypoglossal canals, mastoid canals, parietal and occipital foramina, no difference was found between extant African apes, A. africanus and "robust australopithecines". High frequencies of either condylar or mastoid canals cannot be regarded as a "pongid condition". Moreover, we did not find convincing data to support the hypothesis that mastoid emissary veins (partly representing a putative "radiator" for cooling the brain) were selected in A. africanus, in comparison with "robust australopithecines".
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PMID:Further data about venous channels in South African Plio-Pleistocene hominids. 936 Dec 52

Most blood plasma proteins are glycosylated. These glycoproteins typically carry sialic acid-bearing sugar chains, which can modify the observed molecular weights and isoelectric points of those proteins during electrophoretic analyses. To explore changes in protein expression and glycosylation that occurred during great ape and human evolution, we subjected multiple blood plasma samples from all these species to high-resolution proteomic analysis. We found very few species-specific differences, indicating a remarkable degree of conservation of plasma protein expression and glycosylation during approximately 12 million years of evolution. A few lineage-specific differences in protein migration were noted among the great apes. The only obvious differences between humans and all great apes were an apparent decrease in transthyretin (prealbumin) and a change in haptoglobin isoforms (the latter was predictable from prior genetic studies). Quantitative studies of transthyretin in samples of blood plasma (synthesized primarily by the liver) and of cerebrospinal fluid (synthesized locally by the choroid plexus of the brain) confirmed approximately 2-fold higher levels in chimpanzees compared to humans. Since transthyretin binds thyroid hormones, we next compared plasma thyroid hormone parameters between humans and chimpanzees. The results indicate significant differences in the status of thyroid hormone metabolism, which represent the first known endocrine difference between these species. Notably, thyroid hormones are known to play major roles in the development, differentiation, and metabolism of many organs and tissues, including the brain and the cranium. Also, transthyretin is known to be the major carrier of thyroid hormone in the cerebrospinal fluid, likely regulating delivery of this hormone to the brain. A potential secondary difference in retinoid (vitamin A) metabolism is also noted. The implications of these findings for explaining unique features of human evolution are discussed.
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PMID:Proteomic comparison of human and great ape blood plasma reveals conserved glycosylation and differences in thyroid hormone metabolism. 1212 21