Structural characterization of immune receptor family short pentraxins, C-reactive protein and serum amyloid P
Rongrong Yang1, Jia Hu1, Bo Zeng1
1College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang, People's Republic of China; Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang, People's Republic of China.
Abstract:
The short pentraxins C-reactive protein (CRP) and serum amyloid P component (SAP) are a family of pattern-recognition molecules that play versatile roles in innate immunity and inflammation. A comprehensive description is currently lacking as to the genetic characteristics of these molecules in primates. In the present study, we analyzed genetic changes of CRP and SAP genes in this phylogenic lineage. The results revealed that adaptive selection has brought about interspecific diversities of both genes. The adaptively selected amino acid changes have occurred in or adjacent to the structural domains involved in ligand- and effector-binding and homologous aggregation. Each gene, however, exhibits a striking lack of genetic variation in both commonly-used non-human primate models Macaca fascicularis and M. mulatta. These findings highlight basic facts on the genetic characteristics of primate short pentraxins and would contribute powerfully to the extrapolation of their functional insights and physiological outcomes from primate models to humans.
Related Concept Videos
00:42Cross-reactivity
02:47Protein Families
01:28Diversity of Antigen Receptors
Before encountering any antigen, lymphocytes express these receptors. On B cells, the antigen receptor is a membrane-bound antibody molecule called BCR; on T cells, it is a T cell receptor or TCR. B and T cell receptors are composed of two...