Immunol Rev 224:98–123īelov K, Sanderson CE, Deakin JE, Wong ESW, Assange D, McColl KA, Gout A, de Bono B, Barrow AD, Speed TP, Trowsdale J, Papenfuss AT (2007) Characterization of the opossum immune genome provides insights into the evolution of the mammalian immune system. Immunology 127:8–17īarrow A, Trowsdale J (2008) The extended human leukocyte receptor complex: diverse ways of modulating immune responses. J Mol Biol 215:403–410Īnderson KJ, Allen RL (2009) Regulation of T-cell immunity by leucocyte immunoglobulin-like receptors: innate immune receptors for self on antigen-presenting cells. Understanding the functional role of these genes is also important for the development of therapeutic agents against Devil Facial Tumour Disease, a contagious cancer that threatens the Tasmanian devil with extinction.Īltschul SF, Gish W, Miller W, Myers EW, Lipman DJ (1990) Basic local alignment search tool. Characterisation of these regions in a second, distantly related marsupial provides new insights into the dynamic evolutionary histories of these receptors in mammals. We also identify orthologs of NKC genes KLRK1, CD69, CLEC4E, CLEC1B, CLEC1A and an ortholog of an opossum NKC receptor. Here, we describe the identification of 43 immunoglobulin domain-containing LRC genes in the genome of the Tasmanian devil ( Sarcophilus harrisii), the largest remaining marsupial carnivore and only the second marsupial species to be studied.

To date, most studies have focused on eutherian mammals, with significantly less known about the evolution of these receptors in marsupials. Natural killer cell receptors are emerging as a rapidly evolving gene family which can display significant intra- and interspecific variation. Receptors belonging to the C-type lectin superfamily are predominantly encoded in the natural killer complex (NKC), while receptors belonging to the immunoglobulin superfamily are predominantly encoded in the leukocyte receptor complex (LRC). NK receptors can be divided into two unrelated, but functionally analogous superfamilies based on the structure of their extracellular ligand-binding domains. Their activity is regulated, in part, by cell surface NK cell receptors.

Within the mammalian immune system, natural killer (NK) cells contribute to the first line of defence against infectious agents and tumours.

Download devil gene