A human-specific gene in microglia.

Bibliographic Collection:

CARTA-Inspired Publication, APE

Publication Type: Journal Article

Authors: Hayakawa, Toshiyuki; Angata, Takashi; Lewis, Amanda L; Mikkelsen, Tarjei S; Nissi M Varki; Ajit Varki

Year of Publication: 2005

Journal: Science

Volume: 309

Issue: 5741

Pagination: 1693

Date Published: 2005 Sep 9

Publication Language: eng

ISSN: 1095-9203

Keywords: Animals, Biological Evolution, Brain, Exons, Gene Conversion, Humans, Lectins, Membrane Proteins, Microglia, Pan troglodytes, Phylogeny, Pongo pygmaeus, Pseudogenes, Regulatory Sequences, Nucleic Acid, Sialic Acids

Abstract:

Recent studies have shown multiple differences between humans and apes in sialic acid (Sia) biology, including Siglecs (Sia-recognizing-Ig-superfamily lectins). Comparisons with the chimpanzee genome indicate that human SIGLEC11 emerged through human-specific gene conversion by an adjacent pseudogene. Conversion involved 5 cent untranslated sequences and the Sia-recognition domain. This human protein shows reduced binding relative to the ancestral form but recognizes oligosialic acids, which are enriched in the brain. SIGLEC11 is expressed in human but not in chimpanzee brain microglia. Further studies will determine if this event was related to the evolution of Homo.

DOI: 10.1126/science.1114321

Custom 1:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16151003?dopt=Abstract

Alternate Journal: Science

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