High amino acid diversity and positive selection at a putative coral immunity gene (tachylectin-2).

ABSTRACT:

Background

Genes involved in immune functions, including pathogen recognition and the activation of innate defense pathways, are among the most genetically variable known, and the proteins that they encode are often characterized by high rates of amino acid substitutions, a hallmark of positive selection. The high levels of variation characteristic of immunity genes make them useful tools for conservation genetics. To date, highly variable immunity genes have yet to be found in corals, keystone organisms of the world's most diverse marine ecosystem, the coral reef. Here, we examine variation in and selection on a putative innate immunity gene from Oculina, a coral genus previously used as a model for studies of coral disease and bleaching.

Results

In a survey of 244 Oculina

SUBMITTER: Hayes ML 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2880987 | biostudies-literature | 2010 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature