Large Gene Family Expansions and Adaptive Evolution for Odorant and Gustatory Receptors in the Pea Aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum

Spore killers in fungi are selfish genetic elements that distort Mendelian segregation in their favor. It remains unclear how many species harbor them and how diverse their mechanisms are. Here, we discover two spore killers from a natural isolate of the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe. Both killers belong to the previously uncharacterized wtf gene family with 25 members in the reference genome. These two killers act in strain-background-independent and genome-location-independent manners to perturb the maturation of spores not inheriting them. Spores carrying one killer are protected from its killing effect but not that of the other killer. The killing and protecting activities can be uncoupled by mutation. The numbers and sequences of wtf genes vary considerably between S. pombe isolates, indicating rapid divergence. We propose that wtf genes contribute to the extensive intraspecific reproductive isolation in S. pombe, and represent ideal models for understanding how segregation-distorting elements act and evolve.

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Production of Polyclonal Antibodies against Pregnancy Associated Glycoprotein in Cattle

International Journal of Veterinary Science ◽

10.37422/ijvs/20.045 ◽

2020 ◽

Keyword(s):

Gene Family ◽

False Positive ◽

Half Life ◽

Hormone Level ◽

Polyclonal Antibodies ◽

Large Gene Family ◽

Precise Method ◽

Large Gene ◽

High Level ◽

Positive Results

Pregnancy-associated glycoproteins (PAGs) are considered to be a large gene family in the trophoblasts of ruminants. PAGs determination precisely, PAG-1 in serum has been as the solid ground for pregnancy diagnosis in cow. Unluckily the PAG-1 and the antigenically related PAGs show a long half-life in serum less than 8 days and can be assessed 80 to 100 das postpartum, thereafter giving false results in cows bred within 60 days of calving. This study involves using novel polyclonal antibodies after immunizing rabbits and purification of the produced antibodies. The cattle are pregnant when the PAG hormone level is measured in a high level in a serum sample from the animal. It could give a precise method of detecting pregnancy at the early with few false positive results.

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The NLR (NBD-LRR containing) Family of Intracellular Sensors in Inflammation and Immune Response.

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood.v114.22.sci-22.sci-22 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 114 (22) ◽

pp. SCI-22-SCI-22

Author(s):

Jenny P-Y. Ting

Keyword(s):

Immune Response ◽

Cell Death ◽

Gene Family ◽

Conflicts Of Interest ◽

Type I ◽

Nucleotide Binding Domain ◽

Large Gene Family ◽

Large Gene ◽

Leucine Rich Repeats ◽

Production Cell

Abstract Abstract SCI-22 The NLR gene family encodes proteins that are comprised of conserved nucleotide-binding domain (NBD) and leucine rich-repeats (LRR). These genes are conserved from plants, lower animals to mammals. Family members include CIITA, NOD1, NOD2, and NLRP3. Several of these genes are genetically linked to immunodeficiency, inflammatory and immune diseases. This large gene family controls a number of innate responses, including inflammasome function leading to IL-1b/IL-18 production, cell death and type I IFN production. This talk will discuss the broad function of this family of genes, with emphasis on their regulation of inflammation and innate immunity, and their divergent roles in pathogen responses. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

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