Biology Faculty Articles
Title
Gene Conversion Between Mammalian CCR2 and CCR5 Chemokine Receptor Genes: A Potential Mechanism for Receptor Dimerization
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
8-2007
Publication Title
Genomics
Keywords
Chemokine receptor, Evolution, Mammals, Gene conversion, Lions
ISSN
0888-7543
Volume
90
Issue/No.
2
First Page
213
Last Page
224
Abstract
The chemokine receptor genes of the CCR cluster on human chromosome 3p21 play important roles in humoral and cellular immune responses. Several of these receptors have been shown to influence human immunodeficiency virus infection and progression to AIDS, and their homologues may play a role in feline immunodeficiency virus infection. We report the isolation and sequencing of a 150-kb domestic cat BAC clone containing the feline CCR genes CCR1, CCR2, CCR3, and CCR5 to further analyze these four receptor genes within the family Felidae. Comparative and phylogenetic analyses reveal evidence for historic gene conversion between the adjacent CCR2 and CCR5 genes in the Felidae and in three independent mammalian orders (Primates, Cetartiodactyla, and Rodentia), resulting in higher than expected levels of sequence similarity between the two paralogous genes within each order. The gene conversion was restricted to the structural (transmembrane) domains of the CCR2 and CCR5 genes. We also discovered a recent gene conversion event between the third extracellular loop of CCR2 and CCR5 genes that was fixed in Asian lions and found at low frequency in African lions (Panthera leo), suggesting that this domain may have an important functional role. Our results suggest that ongoing parallel gene conversion between CCR2 and CCR5 promotes receptor heterodimerization in independent evolutionary lineages and offers an effective adaptive strategy for gene editing and coevolution among interactive immune response genes in mammals.
NSUWorks Citation
Vazquez-Salat, Nuria; Naoya Yuhki; Thomas W. Beck; Stephen J. O'Brien; and William J. Murphy. 2007. "Gene Conversion Between Mammalian CCR2 and CCR5 Chemokine Receptor Genes: A Potential Mechanism for Receptor Dimerization." Genomics 90, (2): 213-224. https://nsuworks.nova.edu/cnso_bio_facarticles/538
ORCID ID
0000-0001-7353-8301
ResearcherID
N-1726-2015
Comments
©2007 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.