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Evolution of the beta defensin 2 gene in primates

Genes & Immunity volume 4, pages 251–257 (2003)Cite this article

Abstract

With the aim of further investigating the molecular evolution of beta defensin genes, after having analysed beta defensin 1 (DEFB1) in humans and several nonhuman primate species, we have studied the evolution of the beta defensin 2 gene (DEFB2), which codifies for a peptide with antimicrobial and chemoattractant activity, in humans and 16 primate species. We have found evidence of positive selection during the evolution of orthologous DEFB2 genes at two points on a phylogenetic tree relating these primates: during the divergence of the platyrrhines from the catarrhines and during the divergence of the Cercopithecidae from the Hylobatidae, Great Apes and humans. Furthermore, amino acid variations in Old World Monkeys seem to centre either on residues that are involved in oligomerisation in the human molecule, or that are conserved (40–80%) in beta-defensins in general. It is thus likely that these variations affect the biological function of the molecules and suggest that their synthesis and functional analysis might reveal interesting new information as to their role in innate immunity.

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Acknowledgements

This research was in part supported by grants from the Italian Ministry of the Universities and Scientific Research (PRIN 2001). N Antcheva is supported by a grant from the EU PANAD project QLRT-2000-00411. The collaboration of J Masters is made possible by the NRF Science Liaison Centre, Pretoria.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dipartimento di Scienze della Riproduzione e dello Sviluppo, Università di Trieste, Trieste, Italy

    M Boniotto, S Sgubin, D Santon & S Crovella

  2. Dipartimento di Biochimica, Biofisica e Chimica delle Macromolecole, Università di Trieste, Trieste, Italy

    A Tossi & N Antcheva

  3. Dipartimento di Biologia Animale e dell'Uomo, Università di Torino, Torino, Italy

    M DelPero

  4. Natal Museum, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa

    J Masters

Authors
  1. M Boniotto
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  2. A Tossi
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  3. M DelPero
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  4. S Sgubin
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  5. N Antcheva
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  6. D Santon
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  7. J Masters
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  8. S Crovella
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Correspondence to S Crovella.

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Boniotto, M., Tossi, A., DelPero, M. et al. Evolution of the beta defensin 2 gene in primates. Genes Immun 4, 251–257 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.gene.6363958

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