Evolution of a cluster of innate immune genes (beta-defensins) along the ancestral lines of chicken and zebra finch.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Avian beta-defensins (AvBDs) represent a group of innate immune genes with broad antimicrobial activity. Within the chicken genome, previous work identified 14 AvBDs in a cluster on chromosome three. The release of a second bird genome, the zebra finch, allows us to study the comparative evolutionary history of these gene clusters between from two species that shared a common ancestor about 100 million years ago.

Results

A phylogenetic analysis of the beta-defensin gene clusters in the chicken and the zebra finch identified several cases of gene duplication and gene loss along their ancestral lines. In the zebra finch genome a cluster of 22 AvBD genes were identified, all located within 125 Kbp on chromosome three. Ten of the 22 genes were found to be highly conse

SUBMITTER: Hellgren O 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3161384 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature