Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 27, 2026
07:46
Generation and Maintenance of Primate Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Derived from Urine
Published on: July 28, 2023
The IgE gene in primates exhibits extraordinary evolutionary diversity
Pheidias C Wu1, Jiun-Bo Chen, Shoji Kawamura
1Genomics Research Center, Academia Sinica, Nankang, Taipei, 115, Taiwan.
Immunogenetics
|November 10, 2011
Summary
The ε gene in primates shows varied membrane-bound IgE (mIgE) structures. Some species lack mIgE exons, while others exclusively express long isoforms, highlighting evolutionary diversity in IgE regulation.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Evolutionary Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- Membrane-bound IgE (mIgE) on B cells is crucial for IgE production.
- Human B cells express long and short isoforms of the mIgE ε chain, differing by a CεmX domain.
- The CεmX domain is a potential target for down-regulating IgE in allergic patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the evolutionary variations in the ε gene's membrane exon regions, specifically the CεmX domain, across primate and non-primate species.
- To understand the structural diversity of membrane-bound IgE (mIgE) and its implications for IgE regulation.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of ε Ig gene sequences, focusing on membrane exon regions encoding the CεmX domain and membrane anchor.
- Examination of data from 26 primate species and 12 non-primate species, including experimentally obtained and GenBank-retrieved data.
Main Results:
- Three extant tarsier species lack the membrane exons necessary for mIgE.
- Early primates (Strepsirhini) lack gene segments for the long mIgE isoform.
- New World monkeys exclusively transcribe the long mIgE isoform, while Old World monkeys and apes (including humans) transcribe both long and short isoforms.
Conclusions:
- Significant evolutionary divergence exists in the C-terminal region of the mε chain across major primate lineages.
- These findings reveal substantial differences in mIgE structure and potential regulatory mechanisms among primates.
- The absence or differential expression of mIgE isoforms has implications for understanding IgE-mediated immune responses and allergies.
Related Concept Videos
02:37Gene Duplication and Divergence
The seminal work of Ohno in 1970 popularized the idea of gene duplication and divergence. DNA sequence comparison studies reveal that a large portion of the genes in bacteria, archaebacteria, and eukaryotes was generated by gene duplication and divergence, indicating its critical role in evolution.
The duplicated copies of the gene are called Paralogs. Paralogs with similar sequences and functions form a gene family. Across several species, a large number of gene families are characterized.
The duplicated copies of the gene are called Paralogs. Paralogs with similar sequences and functions form a gene family. Across several species, a large number of gene families are characterized.
02:32Exon Recombination
The evolution of new genes is critical for speciation. Exon recombination, also known as exon shuffling or domain shuffling, is an important means of new gene formation. It is observed across vertebrates, invertebrates, and in some plants such as potatoes and sunflowers. During exon recombination, exons from the same or different genes recombine and produce new exon-intron combinations, which might evolve into new genes.
Exon shuffling follows “splice frame rules.” Each exon has three reading...
Exon shuffling follows “splice frame rules.” Each exon has three reading...
02:05Gene Evolution - Fast or Slow?
The genomes of eukaryotes are punctuated by long stretches of sequence which do not code for proteins or RNAs. Although some of these regions do contain crucial regulatory sequences, the vast majority of this DNA serves no known function. Typically, these regions of the genome are the ones in which the fastest change, in evolutionary terms, is observed, because there is typically little to no selection pressure acting on these regions to preserve their sequences.
In contrast, regions which code...
In contrast, regions which code...
02:05Gene Evolution - Fast or Slow?
The genomes of eukaryotes are punctuated by long stretches of sequence which do not code for proteins or RNAs. Although some of these regions do contain crucial regulatory sequences, the vast majority of this DNA serves no known function. Typically, these regions of the genome are the ones in which the fastest change, in evolutionary terms, is observed, because there is typically little to no selection pressure acting on these regions to preserve their sequences.
In contrast, regions which code...
In contrast, regions which code...
02:31Synteny and Evolution
John H. Renwick first coined the term “synteny” in 1971, which refers to the genes present on the same chromosomes, even if they are not genetically linked. The species with common ancestry tend to show conserved syntenic regions. Therefore, the concept of synteny is nowadays used to describe the evolutionary relationship between species.
Around 80 million years ago, the human and mice lineages diverged from the common ancestor. During the course of evolution, the ancestral chromosome underwent...
Around 80 million years ago, the human and mice lineages diverged from the common ancestor. During the course of evolution, the ancestral chromosome underwent...
02:51Multi-species Conserved Sequences
Next-generation sequencing technologies have created large genomic databases of a variety of animals and plants. Ever since the human genome project was completed, scientists studied the genome of primates, mammals, and other phylogenetically distant living beings. Such large-scale studies have provided new insights into the evolutionary relationship between organisms.
Although the genome of each species varies greatly from each other, a few sequences are highly conserved. Such conserved DNA...
Although the genome of each species varies greatly from each other, a few sequences are highly conserved. Such conserved DNA...