Conclusions

The aim of this research is to predict and annotate all the existent selenoproteins in the Balaenoptera acutorostrata genome using computational approaches. Our results are based in the homology obtained from the comparison of selenoproteins described in species close to the minke whale. The SECIS element prediction has allowed a more accurate search of selenoproteins.

A total of 25 selenoproteins with its correspondent SECIS element (with the exception of SelP where there are two SECIS element) have been characterized. Regarding the machinery elements, 7 proteins have been annotated, one of which, SPS2, is also a selenoprotein. Finally, 7 Cys-homologs have been determined. The explanation and classification of each of them can be found in the discussion.

The closest specie to the minke whale with annotated selenoproteins is Tursiops truncatus. In this study, it has been possible to confirm that the majority of the selenoproteins are conserved in both species, although there have been some exceptions. Despite the absence of the following selenoproteins in dolphin, GPx2, GPx3, GPx4, SelI, TR1 and TR2 have been found in the whale genome. These proteins have been determined by means of their comparison with homologous proteins from two other species: Equus caballus, which is relatively close to the whale, and Homo sapiens, because its genome has been highly described.

A point to bear in mind is that this research is based in theoretical comparisons between proteins from different genomes and the query genome. Therefore, one of its limitations is that, in the case of the existence of a selenoprotein in the whale genome which was not present in the other species, it could not be predicted. On the other hand, there were some proteins without either the start or the end of the sequence, thus it has not been possible to describe them completely. Moreover, some incomplete proteins in both dolphin and horse genomes have been found, thus, better annotations of them could improve the prediction of selenoproteins in the minke whale.

Nevertheless, this research represents a step forward in the field of selenoproteins description in mammals, because it provides knowledge of an undescribed specie until the moment. Also, this project has allowed us to acquire basic and robust knowledge in the bioinformatics field, not only concerning programming, but also webpage creation and computer-based data analysis.