Germline sequences of V H 7183 gene family members in C57BL/6 mice demonstrate natural selection of particular sequences during recent evolution

Genetic evidence suggests that three members of the VAV family (VAV1, VAV2 and VAV3) of signal transduction proteins could play important roles in rheumatoid arthritis. However, it is not known currently whether the inhibition of these proteins protects against this disease and, if so, the number of family members that must be eliminated to get a therapeutic impact. To address this issue, we have used a collection of single and compound Vav family knockout mice in experimental models for antigen-dependent (methylated bovine serum albumin injections) and neutrophil-dependent (Zymosan A injections) rheumatoid arthritis in mice. We show here that the specific elimination of Vav1 is sufficient to block the development of antigen-induced arthritis. This protection is likely associated with the roles of this Vav family member in the development and selection of immature T cells within the thymus as well as in the subsequent proliferation and differentiation of effector T cells. By contrast, we have found that depletion of Vav2 reduces the number of neutrophils present in the joints of Zymosan A-treated mice. Despite this, the elimination of Vav2 does not protect against the joint degeneration triggered by this experimental model. These findings indicate that Vav1 is the most important pharmacological target within this family, although its main role is limited to the protection against antigen-induced rheumatoid arthritis. They also indicate that the three Vav family proteins do not play redundant roles in these pathobiological processes.

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Isolation and Characterization of Rat Cytochrome P-450IIB Gene Family Members

Journal of Biological Chemistry ◽

10.1016/s0021-9258(18)83538-4 ◽

1989 ◽

Vol 264 (12) ◽

pp. 7046-7053 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

C M Giachelli ◽

J Lin-Jones ◽

C J Omiecinski

Keyword(s):

Gene Family ◽

Family Members ◽

Isolation And Characterization

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Genetic diversity and natural selection on the thrombospondin-related adhesive protein (TRAP) gene of Plasmodium falciparum on Bioko Island, Equatorial Guinea and global comparative analysis

Malaria Journal ◽

10.1186/s12936-021-03664-8 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 20 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Li-Yun Lin ◽

Hui-Ying Huang ◽

Xue-Yan Liang ◽

Dong-De Xie ◽

Jiang-Tao Chen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Genetic Diversity ◽

Plasmodium Falciparum ◽

Natural Selection ◽

Protein Structure ◽

Transmembrane Protein ◽

Fixation Index ◽

Bioko Island ◽

Adhesive Protein ◽

Trap Gene ◽

Selection Of

Abstract Background Thrombospondin-related adhesive protein (TRAP) is a transmembrane protein that plays a crucial role during the invasion of Plasmodium falciparum into liver cells. As a potential malaria vaccine candidate, the genetic diversity and natural selection of PfTRAP was assessed and the global PfTRAP polymorphism pattern was described. Methods 153 blood spot samples from Bioko malaria patients were collected during 2016–2018 and the target TRAP gene was amplified. Together with the sequences from database, nucleotide diversity and natural selection analysis, and the structural prediction were preformed using bioinformatical tools. Results A total of 119 Bioko PfTRAP sequences were amplified successfully. On Bioko Island, PfTRAP shows its high degree of genetic diversity and heterogeneity, with π value for 0.01046 and Hd for 0.99. The value of dN–dS (6.2231, p < 0.05) hinted at natural selection of PfTRAP on Bioko Island. Globally, the African PfTRAPs showed more diverse than the Asian ones, and significant genetic differentiation was discovered by the fixation index between African and Asian countries (Fst > 0.15, p < 0.05). 667 Asian isolates clustered in 136 haplotypes and 739 African isolates clustered in 528 haplotypes by network analysis. The mutations I116T, L221I, Y128F, G228V and P299S were predicted as probably damaging by PolyPhen online service, while mutations L49V, R285G, R285S, P299S and K421N would lead to a significant increase of free energy difference (ΔΔG > 1) indicated a destabilization of protein structure. Conclusions Evidences in the present investigation supported that PfTRAP gene from Bioko Island and other malaria endemic countries is highly polymorphic (especially at T cell epitopes), which provided the genetic information background for developing an PfTRAP-based universal effective vaccine. Moreover, some mutations have been shown to be detrimental to the protein structure or function and deserve further study and continuous monitoring.

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Comparison of colonial volvocine algae based on phylotranscriptomic analysis of gene family evolution and natural selection

European Journal of Phycology ◽

10.1080/09670262.2019.1663269 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 55 (1) ◽

pp. 100-112 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Yuxin Hu ◽

Weiyue Xing ◽

Huiyin Song ◽

Zhengyu Hu ◽

Guoxiang Liu

Keyword(s):

Natural Selection ◽

Gene Family ◽

Gene Family Evolution ◽

Volvocine Algae

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Cloning and functional analysis of the FAD2 gene family from desert shrub Artemisia sphaerocephala

BMC Plant Biology ◽

10.1186/s12870-019-2083-5 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 19 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Xiumei Miao ◽

Lijing Zhang ◽

Xiaowei Hu ◽

Shuzhen Nan ◽

Xiaolong Chen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Fatty Acid ◽

Linoleic Acid ◽

Gene Family ◽

Fatty Acid Biosynthesis ◽

Family Members ◽

Pcr Analysis ◽

Mrna Levels ◽

Acid Biosynthesis ◽

Desert Shrub ◽

Artemisia Sphaerocephala

Abstract Background Linoleic acid is an important polyunsaturated fatty acid, required for all eukaryotes. Microsomal delta-12 (Δ12) oleate desaturase (FAD2) is a key enzyme for linoleic acid biosynthesis. Desert shrub Artemisia sphaerocephala is rich in linoleic acid, it has a large FAD2 gene family with twenty-six members. The aim of this work is to unveil the difference and potentially functionality of AsFAD2 family members. Results Full-length cDNAs of twenty-one AsFAD2 genes were obtained from A. sphaerocephala. The putative polypeptides encoded by AsFAD2 family genes showed a high level of sequence similarity and were relatively conserved during evolution. The motif composition was also relatively conservative. Quantitative real-time PCR analysis revealed that the AsFAD2–1 gene was strongly expressed in developing seeds, which may be closely associated with the high accumulating ability of linoleic acid in A. sphaerocephala seeds. Although different AsFAD2 family members showed diverse response to salt stress, the overall mRNA levels of the AsFAD2 family genes was stable. Transient expression of AsFAD2 genes in the Nicotiana benthamiana leaves revealed that the encoded proteins were all located in the endoplasmic reticulum. Heterologous expression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae suggested that only three AsFAD2 enzymes, AsFAD2–1, − 10, and − 23, were Δ12 oleate desaturases, which could convert oleic acid to linoleic acid, whereas AsFAD2–1 and AsFAD2–10 could also produce palmitolinoleic acid. Conclusions This research reported the cloning, expression studies, subcellular localization and functional identification of the large AsFAD2 gene family. These results should be helpful in understanding fatty acid biosynthesis in A. sphaerocephala, and has the potential to be applied in the study of plant fatty acids traits.

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