Evolution of CCL11: genetic characterization in lagomorphs and evidence of positive and purifying selection in mammals

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2016

Authors

Neves, F (Author) Other; Abrantes, J (Author) Other; Esteves, PJ (Author) FCUP

Journal

Title: Innate immunity

Vol. 22

Pages: 336-343

ISSN: 1753-4259

Publisher: SAGE

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 7 Citations

Scopus - 7 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00K-KR2

DOI: 10.1177/1753425916647471

Abstract (EN): The interactions between chemokines and their receptors are crucial for differentiation and activation of inflammatory cells. CC chemokine ligand 11 (CCL11) binds to CCR3 and to CCR5 that in leporids underwent gene conversion with CCR2. Here, we genetically characterized CCL11 in lagomorphs (leporids and pikas). All lagomorphs have a potentially functional CCL11, and the Pygmy rabbit has a mutation in the stop codon that leads to a longer protein. Other mammals also have mutations at the stop codon that result in proteins with different lengths. By employing maximum likelihood methods, we observed that, in mammals, CCL11 exhibits both signatures of purifying and positive selection. Signatures of purifying selection were detected in sites important for receptor binding and activation. Of the three sites detected as under positive selection, two were located close to the stop codon. Our results suggest that CCL11 is functional in all lagomorphs, and that the signatures of purifying and positive selection in mammalian CCL11 probably reflect the protein's biological roles.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 8