Structure and evolution of the mouse pregnancy-specific glycoprotein (<it>Psg</it>) gene locus

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The pregnancy-specific glycoprotein (<it>Psg</it>) genes encode proteins of unknown function, and are members of the carcinoembryonic antigen (<it>Cea</it>) gene family, which is a member of the immunoglobulin...

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Main Authors: Okumura Katsuzumi, Ball Melanie, Wynne Freda, Hori Tomomi, Dveksler Gabriela, Fischer Beate, McLellan Andrew S, Moore Tom, Zimmermann Wolfgang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2005-01-01
Series:BMC Genomics
Online Access:http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2164/6/4
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author Okumura Katsuzumi
Ball Melanie
Wynne Freda
Hori Tomomi
Dveksler Gabriela
Fischer Beate
McLellan Andrew S
Moore Tom
Zimmermann Wolfgang
author_facet Okumura Katsuzumi
Ball Melanie
Wynne Freda
Hori Tomomi
Dveksler Gabriela
Fischer Beate
McLellan Andrew S
Moore Tom
Zimmermann Wolfgang
author_sort Okumura Katsuzumi
collection DOAJ
description <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The pregnancy-specific glycoprotein (<it>Psg</it>) genes encode proteins of unknown function, and are members of the carcinoembryonic antigen (<it>Cea</it>) gene family, which is a member of the immunoglobulin gene (<it>Ig</it>) superfamily. In rodents and primates, but not in artiodactyls (even-toed ungulates / hoofed mammals), there have been independent expansions of the <it>Psg </it>gene family, with all members expressed exclusively in placental trophoblast cells. For the mouse <it>Psg </it>genes, we sought to determine the genomic organisation of the locus, the expression profiles of the various family members, and the evolution of exon structure, to attempt to reconstruct the evolutionary history of this locus, and to determine whether expansion of the gene family has been driven by selection for increased gene dosage, or diversification of function.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We collated the mouse <it>Psg </it>gene sequences currently in the public genome and expressed-sequence tag (EST) databases and used systematic BLAST searches to generate complete sequences for all known mouse <it>Psg </it>genes. We identified a novel family member, <it>Psg31</it>, which is similar to <it>Psg30 </it>but, uniquely amongst mouse <it>Psg </it>genes, has a duplicated N1 domain. We also identified a novel splice variant of <it>Psg16 </it>(<it>bCEA</it>). We show that <it>Psg24 </it>and <it>Psg30 </it>/ <it>Psg31 </it>have independently undergone expansion of N-domain number. By mapping BAC, YAC and cosmid clones we described two clusters of <it>Psg </it>genes, which we linked and oriented using fluorescent <it>in situ </it>hybridisation (FISH). Comparison of our <it>Psg </it>locus map with the public mouse genome database indicates good agreement in overall structure and further elucidates gene order. Expression levels of <it>Psg </it>genes in placentas of different developmental stages revealed dramatic differences in the developmental expression profile of individual family members.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>We have combined existing information, and provide new information concerning the evolution of mouse <it>Psg </it>exon organization, the mouse <it>Psg </it>genomic locus structure, and the expression patterns of individual <it>Psg </it>genes. This information will facilitate functional studies of this complex gene family.</p>
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spelling doaj.art-72297dd8e7d3418aa4ed675e7bcf8e8d2022-12-22T03:10:18ZengBMCBMC Genomics1471-21642005-01-0161410.1186/1471-2164-6-4Structure and evolution of the mouse pregnancy-specific glycoprotein (<it>Psg</it>) gene locusOkumura KatsuzumiBall MelanieWynne FredaHori TomomiDveksler GabrielaFischer BeateMcLellan Andrew SMoore TomZimmermann Wolfgang<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The pregnancy-specific glycoprotein (<it>Psg</it>) genes encode proteins of unknown function, and are members of the carcinoembryonic antigen (<it>Cea</it>) gene family, which is a member of the immunoglobulin gene (<it>Ig</it>) superfamily. In rodents and primates, but not in artiodactyls (even-toed ungulates / hoofed mammals), there have been independent expansions of the <it>Psg </it>gene family, with all members expressed exclusively in placental trophoblast cells. For the mouse <it>Psg </it>genes, we sought to determine the genomic organisation of the locus, the expression profiles of the various family members, and the evolution of exon structure, to attempt to reconstruct the evolutionary history of this locus, and to determine whether expansion of the gene family has been driven by selection for increased gene dosage, or diversification of function.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We collated the mouse <it>Psg </it>gene sequences currently in the public genome and expressed-sequence tag (EST) databases and used systematic BLAST searches to generate complete sequences for all known mouse <it>Psg </it>genes. We identified a novel family member, <it>Psg31</it>, which is similar to <it>Psg30 </it>but, uniquely amongst mouse <it>Psg </it>genes, has a duplicated N1 domain. We also identified a novel splice variant of <it>Psg16 </it>(<it>bCEA</it>). We show that <it>Psg24 </it>and <it>Psg30 </it>/ <it>Psg31 </it>have independently undergone expansion of N-domain number. By mapping BAC, YAC and cosmid clones we described two clusters of <it>Psg </it>genes, which we linked and oriented using fluorescent <it>in situ </it>hybridisation (FISH). Comparison of our <it>Psg </it>locus map with the public mouse genome database indicates good agreement in overall structure and further elucidates gene order. Expression levels of <it>Psg </it>genes in placentas of different developmental stages revealed dramatic differences in the developmental expression profile of individual family members.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>We have combined existing information, and provide new information concerning the evolution of mouse <it>Psg </it>exon organization, the mouse <it>Psg </it>genomic locus structure, and the expression patterns of individual <it>Psg </it>genes. This information will facilitate functional studies of this complex gene family.</p>http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2164/6/4
spellingShingle Okumura Katsuzumi
Ball Melanie
Wynne Freda
Hori Tomomi
Dveksler Gabriela
Fischer Beate
McLellan Andrew S
Moore Tom
Zimmermann Wolfgang
Structure and evolution of the mouse pregnancy-specific glycoprotein (<it>Psg</it>) gene locus
BMC Genomics
title Structure and evolution of the mouse pregnancy-specific glycoprotein (<it>Psg</it>) gene locus
title_full Structure and evolution of the mouse pregnancy-specific glycoprotein (<it>Psg</it>) gene locus
title_fullStr Structure and evolution of the mouse pregnancy-specific glycoprotein (<it>Psg</it>) gene locus
title_full_unstemmed Structure and evolution of the mouse pregnancy-specific glycoprotein (<it>Psg</it>) gene locus
title_short Structure and evolution of the mouse pregnancy-specific glycoprotein (<it>Psg</it>) gene locus
title_sort structure and evolution of the mouse pregnancy specific glycoprotein it psg it gene locus
url http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2164/6/4
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