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Mucosal galectin genes in all freshwater eels of the genus Anguilla
Author(s) -
Tsutsui Shigeyuki,
Yoshinaga Tatsuki,
Watanabe Shun,
Tsukamoto Katsumi,
Nakamura Osamu
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
journal of fish biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.672
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1095-8649
pISSN - 0022-1112
DOI - 10.1111/jfb.13936
Subject(s) - biology , galectin , gene , subspecies , intron , exon , genomic dna , amino acid , conserved sequence , peptide sequence , genetics , zoology , biochemistry
In this study, we determined the genomic DNA sequences of the mucosal galectin‐encoding genes from all 19 species and subspecies of the genus Anguilla . The nucleotide sequences of the galectin genes were c . 2.3–2.5 kb long and the organisation of their four exons and three introns was conserved in all species. An unusual sequence was found in the fourth exon of Anguilla reinhardtii , resulting in a unique deduced amino‐acid sequence at the C‐terminus. All six amino‐acid residues important for β‐galactoside binding were conserved in three species, while one residue (R 73 ) was substituted to K 73 in the other 16 species–subspecies, including Anguilla marmorata . However, this substitution did not appear to affect the sugar‐binding ability of galectins because the galectin of A. marmorata was previously shown to bind to lactose. We also discuss the molecular evolution of galectins among Anguilla spp. and the homologues previously identified in Conger myriaster .