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A Method For Production of Recombinant mCD1d Protein in Insect Cells.
Published on: December 10, 2007
Evolutionary biology of CD1
1Center for Immunobiology, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, 1 Gustave Levy Place, Box 1630, New York, NY 10029, USA. christopher.dascher@mssm.edu
Current Topics in Microbiology and Immunology
|June 28, 2007
Summary
The discovery of CD1 molecules presenting lipid antigens revealed immune system complexity. CD1 likely evolved from major histocompatibility complex class I genes in early terrestrial vertebrates.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Evolutionary Biology
- Genomics
Background:
- Lipid antigen presentation by CD1 molecules unveiled new complexities in adaptive immunity.
- The immune system possesses diverse recognition systems, including Toll-like receptors and major histocompatibility complex (MHC).
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the evolutionary history of CD1 molecules.
- To connect CD1 evolution with existing models of MHC evolution.
Main Methods:
- Phylogenetic analysis of CD1 and MHC genes.
- Comparative genomics utilizing whole genome sequence data.
Main Results:
- Evidence suggests CD1 evolved from major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC I) genes.
- Homologs of MHC I and MHC II are found in jawed vertebrates, but CD1 genes are present only in a subset.
- The pattern of CD1 occurrence suggests its emergence in early terrestrial vertebrates.
Conclusions:
- CD1's natural history is integral to understanding broader immune system evolution.
- CD1 likely originated from an MHC I gene during vertebrate evolution.
- The distribution of CD1 genes points to an origin in early terrestrial vertebrates.
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