Abstract
The RNase A superfamily has been important in biochemical, structural, and evolutionary studies and is believed to be the sole vertebrate-specific enzyme family. To understand the origin and diversification of the superfamily, we here determine its entire repertoire in the sequenced genomes of human, mouse, rat, and chicken. We report a previously unnoticed gene cluster in mouse chromosome 10 and a number of new genes, including mammalian RNases 11-13, which are close relatives of the recently identified RNases 9 and 10. Gene expression data imply male-reproductive functions for RNases 9-13, although their sequences suggest the lack of ribonucleolytic activities. In contrast to the presence of 13-20 functional genes in mammals, chicken has only 3 RNase genes, which are evolutionarily close to mammalian RNase 5, like other nonmammalian RNases. This and other evidence suggests that the RNase A superfamily originated from an RNase 5-like gene and expanded in mammals. Together with the fact that multiple lineages of the superfamily, including RNases 2, 3, 5, and 7, have antipathogenic activities, we suggest that the superfamily started off as a host-defense mechanism in vertebrates. Consistent with this hypothesis, all members of the superfamily exhibit high rates of amino acid substitution as is commonly observed in immunity genes.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 208-220 |
| Number of pages | 13 |
| Journal | Genomics |
| Volume | 85 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Feb 2005 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Fingerprint
All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Genetics
Cite this
The ribonuclease A superfamily of mammals and birds : Identifying new members and tracing evolutionary histories. / Cho, Soochin; Beintema, Jaap J.; Zhang, Jianzhi.
In: Genomics, Vol. 85, No. 2, 02.2005, p. 208-220.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - The ribonuclease A superfamily of mammals and birds
T2 - Identifying new members and tracing evolutionary histories
AU - Cho, Soochin
AU - Beintema, Jaap J.
AU - Zhang, Jianzhi
PY - 2005/2
Y1 - 2005/2
N2 - The RNase A superfamily has been important in biochemical, structural, and evolutionary studies and is believed to be the sole vertebrate-specific enzyme family. To understand the origin and diversification of the superfamily, we here determine its entire repertoire in the sequenced genomes of human, mouse, rat, and chicken. We report a previously unnoticed gene cluster in mouse chromosome 10 and a number of new genes, including mammalian RNases 11-13, which are close relatives of the recently identified RNases 9 and 10. Gene expression data imply male-reproductive functions for RNases 9-13, although their sequences suggest the lack of ribonucleolytic activities. In contrast to the presence of 13-20 functional genes in mammals, chicken has only 3 RNase genes, which are evolutionarily close to mammalian RNase 5, like other nonmammalian RNases. This and other evidence suggests that the RNase A superfamily originated from an RNase 5-like gene and expanded in mammals. Together with the fact that multiple lineages of the superfamily, including RNases 2, 3, 5, and 7, have antipathogenic activities, we suggest that the superfamily started off as a host-defense mechanism in vertebrates. Consistent with this hypothesis, all members of the superfamily exhibit high rates of amino acid substitution as is commonly observed in immunity genes.
AB - The RNase A superfamily has been important in biochemical, structural, and evolutionary studies and is believed to be the sole vertebrate-specific enzyme family. To understand the origin and diversification of the superfamily, we here determine its entire repertoire in the sequenced genomes of human, mouse, rat, and chicken. We report a previously unnoticed gene cluster in mouse chromosome 10 and a number of new genes, including mammalian RNases 11-13, which are close relatives of the recently identified RNases 9 and 10. Gene expression data imply male-reproductive functions for RNases 9-13, although their sequences suggest the lack of ribonucleolytic activities. In contrast to the presence of 13-20 functional genes in mammals, chicken has only 3 RNase genes, which are evolutionarily close to mammalian RNase 5, like other nonmammalian RNases. This and other evidence suggests that the RNase A superfamily originated from an RNase 5-like gene and expanded in mammals. Together with the fact that multiple lineages of the superfamily, including RNases 2, 3, 5, and 7, have antipathogenic activities, we suggest that the superfamily started off as a host-defense mechanism in vertebrates. Consistent with this hypothesis, all members of the superfamily exhibit high rates of amino acid substitution as is commonly observed in immunity genes.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=12844257490&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=12844257490&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.ygeno.2004.10.008
DO - 10.1016/j.ygeno.2004.10.008
M3 - Article
C2 - 15676279
AN - SCOPUS:12844257490
VL - 85
SP - 208
EP - 220
JO - Genomics
JF - Genomics
SN - 0888-7543
IS - 2
ER -