Abstract
Cytotoxic T cells and natural killer cells can kill target cells based on their expression and release of perforin, granulysin, and granzymes. Genes encoding these molecules have been only poorly annotated in camelids. Based on bioinformatic analyses of genomic resources, sequences corresponding to perforin, granulysin, and granzymes were identified in genomes of camelids and related ungulate species, and annotation of the corresponding genes was performed. A phylogenetic tree was constructed to study evolutionary relationships between the species analyzed. Re-sequencing of all genes in a panel of 10 dromedaries and 10 domestic Bactrian camels allowed analyzing their individual genetic polymorphisms. The data showed that all extant Old World camelids possess functional genes for two pore-forming proteins (PRF1, GNLY) and six granzymes (GZMA, GZMB, GZMH, GZMK, GZMM, and GZMO). All these genes were represented as single copies in the genome except the GZMH gene exhibiting interspecific differences in the number of loci. High protein sequence similarities with other camelid and ungulate species were observed for GZMK and GZMM. The protein variability in dromedaries and Bactrian camels was rather low, except for GNLY and chymotrypsin-like granzymes (GZMB, GZMH).
Highlights
The mammalian immune system is a complex of mechanisms able to recognize, control and eliminate pathogens or transformed cells
Natural killer (NK) cells belonging to the innate arm and various populations of cytotoxic T lymphocytes, part of the adaptive arm of immunity, can use the same mechanisms to fulfill this task, which is a delivery of deadly proteins from their secretory granules to the target cell
A survey of the reference genomes revealed potentially functional singlecopy genes coding for pore-forming proteins, perforin, and granulysin
Summary
The mammalian immune system is a complex of mechanisms able to recognize, control and eliminate pathogens or transformed cells. Innate immune responses represent fast, often immediate, and non-specific mechanisms effective against a wide range of pathogens. Adaptive immune responses are characteristic of strong and antigen-specific reactions, slower onset, and often long-lasting immunological memory [1]. Both arms can recognize infected or transformed host cells and kill them by activating programmed cell death. Natural killer (NK) cells belonging to the innate arm and various populations of cytotoxic T lymphocytes, part of the adaptive arm of immunity, can use the same mechanisms to fulfill this task, which is a delivery of deadly proteins from their secretory granules to the target cell
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