Conservation and divergence of gene families encoding components of innate immune response systems in zebrafish.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The zebrafish has become a widely used model to study disease resistance and immunity. Although the genes encoding many components of immune signaling pathways have been found in teleost fish, it is not clear whether all components are present or whether the complexity of the signaling mechanisms employed by mammals is similar in fish.

Results

We searched the genomes of the zebrafish Danio rerio and two pufferfish for genes encoding components of the Toll-like receptor and interferon signaling pathways, the NLR (NACHT-domain and leucine rich repeat containing) protein family, and related proteins. We find that most of the components known in mammals are also present in fish, with clearly recognizable orthologous relationships. The class II cytokines and their rece

SUBMITTER: Stein C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2258186 | biostudies-literature | 2007

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature