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Evolution of the hepcidin gene in primates
Ludovica Segat1, Alessandra Pontillo, Michele Milanese
1Genetic Unit, IRCCS Burlo Garofolo and Department of Reproductive and Developmental Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy. segat@burlo.trieste.it
BMC Genomics
|March 7, 2008
Summary
The iron hormone hepcidin (HAMP) is highly conserved across primate species, with variations in New-World monkeys suggesting other functional roles beyond iron regulation. This study analyzed HAMP evolution in 14 primate species.
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary biology
- Biochemistry
- Genomics
Background:
- Hepcidin/LEAP-1 functions as both an iron regulatory hormone and an antimicrobial peptide.
- Host defense peptides are crucial in evolutionary studies.
- The evolutionary trajectory of hepcidin in primates was unexplored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the evolutionary conservation of the hepcidin gene across 14 non-human primate species.
- To understand the functional implications of sequence variations in hepcidin.
Main Methods:
- Sequencing of the orthologous hepcidin gene from 14 non-human primate species.
- Comparative sequence analysis of the mature hepcidin peptide.
Main Results:
- The mature hepcidin peptide sequence is highly conserved among analyzed primates.
- Great apes and gibbons share an identical sequence with humans.
- Old-World monkeys show a single conservative variation, while New-World monkeys exhibit a few substitutions.
Conclusions:
- Hepcidin's role in iron regulation, involving interaction with ferroportin, likely drives its sequence conservation.
- Significant sequence variation in residues 15-18 in New-World monkeys suggests this region has additional functions.
- Evolutionary analysis reveals conserved and variable regions in hepcidin, hinting at multifaceted roles.
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