PUBLICATION

Zebrafish and chicken lipocalin-type prostaglandin D synthase homologues: Conservation of mammalian gene structure and binding ability for lipophilic molecules, and difference in expression profile and enzyme activity

Authors
Fujimori, K., Inui, T., Uodome, N., Kadoyama, K., Aritake, K., and Urade, Y.
ID
ZDB-PUB-060419-8
Date
2006
Source
Gene   375: 14-25 (Journal)
Registered Authors
Keywords
Non-mammalian, Prostaglandin D synthase, Molecular evolution, Lipocalin
MeSH Terms
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Base Sequence
  • Chickens/genetics*
  • Chromosome Mapping
  • Cloning, Molecular
  • DNA Primers
  • DNA, Complementary
  • Gene Expression Profiling*
  • Humans
  • Intramolecular Oxidoreductases/chemistry
  • Intramolecular Oxidoreductases/genetics*
  • Intramolecular Oxidoreductases/metabolism
  • Lipocalins
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
  • Zebrafish/genetics*
PubMed
16616995 Full text @ Gene
Abstract
Lipocalin-type prostaglandin (PG) D synthase (L-PGDS) is a bifunctional protein possessing both the ability to synthesize PGD(2) and to serve as a carrier protein for lipophilic molecules. L-PGDS has been extensively studied in mammalian species, whereas little is known about non-mammalian forms. Here, we identified and characterized the L-PGDS homologues from non-mammals such as zebrafish and chicken. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that L-PGDSs of mammalian and non-mammalian organisms form a "L-PGDS sub-family" that has been evolutionally separated from other lipocalin gene family proteins. The genes for zebrafish and chicken L-PGDS homologues consisted of 6 exons, and all of the exon/intron boundaries were completely identical to those of mammalian L-PGDS genes. Zebrafish and chicken L-PGDS genes were clustered with several lipocalin genes in the chromosome, as in the case of mouse and human genes. Gene expression profiles were different among chicken, mouse, human, except for conservation of abundant expression in the brain and heart. The chicken L-PGDS homologue carried weak PGDS activity, whereas the zebrafish protein did not show any of the activity. However, when the amino-terminal region of the zebrafish L-PGDS homologue was exchanged for that of mouse L-PGDS carrying the Cys residue essential for PGDS activity, this chimeric protein showed weak PGDS activity. Both zebrafish and chicken L-PGDS homologues bound thyroxine and all-trans retinoic acid, like mammalian L-PGDSs and other lipocalin gene family proteins. These results indicate that non-mammalian and mammalian L-PGDS genes evolved from the same ancestral gene and that the non-mammalian L-PGDS homologue was the primordial form of L-PGDS but whose major function was and is to serve as a carrier protein for lipophilic molecules. During molecular evolution, the mammalian L-PGDS protein might have acquired effective PGDS activity through substitution of several amino acid residues, especially in the amino-terminal region including the Cys residue, which is essential for PGDS activity.
Genes / Markers
Figures
Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Antibodies
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping