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Cloning of the complete rat immunoglobulin δ gene: evolutionary implications
Author(s) -
Zhao Yaofeng,
Hammarström Lennart
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.297
H-Index - 133
eISSN - 1365-2567
pISSN - 0019-2805
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2567.2003.01610.x
Subject(s) - complementary dna , gene , untranslated region , biology , cloning (programming) , phylogenetic tree , genetics , immunoglobulin gene , gene expression , gene family , messenger rna , microbiology and biotechnology , computer science , programming language
Summary The recent discovery of a Cδ encoding gene in artiodactyls has raised questions regarding the evolution of the gene. In the present study, we have analysed the complete rat Cδ gene both at the cDNA and genomic levels, showing that the rat Cδ gene is structurally similar to the corresponding mouse gene. Analysis of the rat immunoglobulin D heavy chain cDNA tail sequences, revealed two transcripts for the secreted form with varying sizes of their 3′ untranslated region (UTR), resulting from usage of two different poly(A) addition signals. Furthermore, a membrane‐bound form encoding transcript, possessing a long 3′ UTR, was also observed. Phylogenetic analysis supports that the Cδ gene appeared early in the evolution of vertebrates, and it was probably duplicated from the Cµ gene more than 400 million years ago.