Understanding how proteins gain new functions following gene duplication (i.e. neofunctionalisation) via structural changes is a key research theme in the Jackson group. In this paper, published recently in Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, we use phylogenetic analysis, biochemical comparisons, and structural analysis to explore the evolutionary trajectories that link two Drosophila esterases.
This work was done in collaboration with members of John Oakeshott group (CSIRO). Congratulations to Davis and all those involved in this work!