Evolution of vertebrate interferon inducible transmembrane proteins.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Interferon inducible transmembrane proteins (IFITMs) have diverse roles, including the control of cell proliferation, promotion of homotypic cell adhesion, protection against viral infection, promotion of bone matrix maturation and mineralisation, and mediating germ cell development. Most IFITMs have been well characterised in human and mouse but little published data exists for other animals. This study characterised IFITMs in two distantly related marsupial species, the Australian tammar wallaby and the South American grey short-tailed opossum, and analysed the phylogeny of the IFITM family in vertebrates.

Results

Five IFITM paralogues were identified in both the tammar and opossum. As in eutherians, most marsupial IFITM genes exist within a cluster, contain two

SUBMITTER: Hickford D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3424830 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature