Unusual loss of chymosin in mammalian lineages parallels neo-natal immune transfer strategies

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2017

Authors

Lopes Marques, M (Author) Other; Ruivo, R (Author) Other; Fonseca, E (Author) Other; Teixeira, A (Author) Other; Filipe F C Castro (Author) FCUP

Journal

Title: Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution

Vol. 116

Pages: 78-86

ISSN: 1055-7903

Publisher: Elsevier

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 11 Citations

Scopus - 12 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00M-ZXX

DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2017.08.014

Abstract (EN): Gene duplication and loss are powerful drivers of evolutionary change. The role of loss in phenotypic diversification is notably illustrated by the variable enzymatic repertoire involved in vertebrate protein digestion. Among these we find the pepsin family of aspartic proteinases, including chymosin (Cmy). Previous studies demonstrated that Cmy, a neo-natal digestive pepsin, is inactivated in some primates, including humans. This pseudogenization event was hypothesized to result from the acquisition of maternal immune immunoglobulin G (IgG) transfer. By investigating 94 mammalian subgenomes we reveal an unprecedented level of Cmy erosion in placental mammals, with numerous independent events of gene loss taking place in Primates, Dermoptera, Rodentia, Cetacea and Perissodactyla. Our findings strongly suggest that the recurrent inactivation of Cmy correlates with the evolution of the passive transfer of IgG and uncovers a noteworthy case of evolutionary crosstalk between the digestive and the immune system, modulated by gene loss.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 9