Conservative mutation

Conservative Mutation

A conservative mutationis a type of genetic mutation where a change in a DNA sequence results in the substitution of an amino acid in a protein with another amino acid that has similar biochemical properties. This type of mutation is often less likely to affect the function of the protein compared to non-conservative mutations, which involve the substitution of amino acids with different properties.

Overview

Conservative mutations occur when the altered codon codes for an amino acid with similar size, charge, polarity, or hydrophobicity as the original amino acid. Because of these similarities, the overall structure and function of the protein may remain largely unchanged, minimizing the impact on the organism.

Types of Conservative Mutations

Conservative mutations can be classified based on the properties of the amino acids involved:

• Charge Conservation: Substitution of an amino acid with another of the same charge, such as replacing lysine with arginine.
• Polarity Conservation: Substitution of an amino acid with another of similar polarity, such as replacing serine with threonine.
• Size Conservation: Substitution of an amino acid with another of similar size, such as replacing valine with leucine.

Examples

An example of a conservative mutation is the substitution of glutamic acid (Glu) with aspartic acid (Asp). Both amino acids are negatively charged and have similar structures, so the impact on the protein's function is often minimal.

Biological Significance

Conservative mutations are significant in evolutionary biology as they allow for genetic variation without drastically altering protein function. This can enable organisms to adapt to new environments while maintaining essential biological processes.

Comparison with Non-Conservative Mutations

In contrast to conservative mutations, non-conservative mutations involve the substitution of amino acids with different properties, which can lead to significant changes in protein structure and function. These mutations are more likely to be deleterious and can result in diseases or disorders.

Also see

• Mutation
• Point mutation
• Silent mutation
• Missense mutation
• Nonsense mutation
• Genetic variation