ULBP4/RAET1E is highly polymorphic in the Old World monkey

Immunogenetics. 2011 Aug;63(8):501-9. doi: 10.1007/s00251-011-0531-y. Epub 2011 May 7.

Abstract

Natural-killer group 2 member D (NKG2D) is an activating receptor that plays an important role in the immune response mediated by NK cells, γδ(+) T cells, and CD8(+) T cells. In humans, MHC class I chain-related genes and UL-16 binding protein (ULBP)/retinoic acid early transcript 1 (REAT1) gene family encode ligands for NKG2D. The rhesus and crab-eating macaques, which belong to the Old World monkeys, are widely used as non-human primate models in medical researches on the immunological process. In the present study, we investigated the polymorphisms of ULBP4/RAET1E, a member of the ULBP/RAET1 family, and found 25 and 14 alleles from the rhesus and crab-eating macaques, respectively, of which diversities were far more extended than in humans. A phylogenetic study suggested that the allelic diversification of ULBP4/RAET1E predated the divergence of rhesus and crab-eating macaques.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Carrier Proteins / chemistry
  • Carrier Proteins / genetics*
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / chemistry
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / genetics*
  • Humans
  • Macaca fascicularis / genetics*
  • Macaca mulatta / genetics*
  • Membrane Proteins / chemistry
  • Membrane Proteins / genetics*
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Phylogeny
  • Polymorphism, Genetic*
  • Sequence Alignment

Substances

  • Carrier Proteins
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class I
  • Membrane Proteins