Extraordinary diversity among members of the large gene family, 185/333, from the purple sea urchin, Strongylocentrotus purpuratus.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Recent analysis of immune-related genes within the sea urchin genome revealed a number of large gene families with vertebrate homologues, such as the Toll-like and NOD/NALP-like receptor families and C-type lectins in addition to a rudimentary complement system. Therefore, the immune response of the purple sea urchin appears to be more complex than previously believed. Another component of the sea urchin immune response is an unusual family of mRNAs, known as 185/333, which is strongly upregulated in response to pathogen challenge. The work presented here indicates that this family of transcripts is derived from an unexpectedly diverse gene family.

Results

The 185/333 genes are small (< 2 kb) with only two exons. Their extraordinary diversity was exemplified by 12

SUBMITTER: Buckley KM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1988830 | biostudies-literature | 2007 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature