Natural history of SLC11 genes in vertebrates: tales from the fish world.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The SLC11A1/Nramp1 and SLC11A2/Nramp2 genes belong to the SLC11/Nramp family of transmembrane divalent metal transporters, with SLC11A1 being associated with resistance to pathogens and SLC11A2 involved in intestinal iron uptake and transferrin-bound iron transport. Both members of the SLC11 gene family have been clearly identified in tetrapods; however SLC11A1 has never been documented in teleost fish and is believed to have been lost in this lineage during early vertebrate evolution. In the present work we characterized the SLC11 genes in teleosts and evaluated if the roles attributed to mammalian SLC11 genes are assured by other fish specific SLC11 gene members.

Results

Two different SLC11 genes were isolated in the European sea bass (Dicentrarchus. labrax), an

SUBMITTER: Neves JV 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3103463 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature