Pangolin genomes and the evolution of mammalian scales and immunity

• Tipo: Artigo em Revista Científica Internacional
• Data: 2016

Autores

Choo, SW (Autor) Outra; Rayko, M (Autor) Outra; Tan, TK (Autor) Outra; Hari, R (Autor) Outra; Komissarov, A (Autor) Outra; Wee, WY (Autor) Outra; Yurchenko, AA (Autor) Outra; Kliver, S (Autor) Outra; Tamazian, G (Autor) Outra; Agostinho Antunes (Autor) FCUP; Wilson, RK (Autor) Outra; Warren, WC (Autor) Outra; Koepfli, KP (Autor) Outra; Minx, P (Autor) Outra; Krasheninnikova, K (Autor) Outra; Kotze, A (Autor) Outra; Dalton, DL (Autor) Outra; Vermaak, E (Autor) Outra; Paterson, IC (Autor) Outra; Dobrynin, P (Autor) Outra; Sitam, FT (Autor) Outra; Rovie Ryan, JJ (Autor) Outra; Johnson, WE (Autor) Outra; Yusoff, AM (Autor) Outra; Luo, SJ (Autor) Outra; Karuppannan, KV (Autor) Outra; Fang, G (Autor) Outra; Zheng, D (Autor) Outra; Gerstein, MB (Autor) Outra; Lipovich, L (Autor) Outra; O'Brien, SJ (Autor) Outra; Wong, GJ (Autor) Outra

Revista

Título: Genome Research

Vol. 26

Páginas: 1312-1322

ISSN: 1088-9051

Editora: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press

Indexação

ISI Web of Knowledge - 66 Citações

Scopus - 74 Citações

Outras Informações

ID Authenticus: P-00M-4SM

DOI: 10.1101/gr.203521.115

Abstract (EN): Pangolins, unique mammals with scales over most of their body, no teeth, poor vision, and an acute olfactory system, comprise the only placental order (Pholidota) without a whole-genome map. To investigate pangolin biology and evolution, we developed genome assemblies of the Malayan (Manis javanica) and Chinese (M. pentadactyla) pangolins. Strikingly, we found that interferon epsilon (IFNE), exclusively expressed in epithelial cells and important in skin and mucosal immunity, is pseudogenized in all African and Asian pangolin species that we examined, perhaps impacting resistance to infection. We propose that scale development was an innovation that provided protection against injuries or stress and reduced pangolin vulnerability to infection. Further evidence of specialized adaptations was evident from positively selected genes involving immunity-related pathways, inflammation, energy storage and metabolism, muscular and nervous systems, and scale/hair development. Olfactory receptor gene families are significantly expanded in pangolins, reflecting their well-developed olfaction system. This study provides insights into mammalian adaptation and functional diversification, new research tools and questions, and perhaps a new natural IFNE-deficient animal model for studying mammalian immunity.

Idioma: Inglês

Tipo (Avaliação Docente): Científica

Nº de páginas: 11