Characterization and phylogenetic analysis of genes coding for C3 and factor B complement system components from Loxosceles spiders

• Grant number: 12/03308-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate (Direct)
• Start date: May 01, 2012
• End date: April 30, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Immunology - Immunochemistry
• Principal Investigator: Denise Vilarinho Tambourgi
• Grantee: Daniela Tiemi Myamoto
• Host Institution: Instituto Butantan. Secretaria da Saúde (São Paulo - Estado). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 08/57898-0 - National Institute of Science and Technology on Toxins, AP.TEM

Abstract

The human complement system is composed by more than 30 proteins and many of them have conserved domains that allow to trace the phylogenetic evolution based on their structures. The studies of vertebrate and invertebrate genomes revealed that many domains of mammals complement components are found in both deuterostomes and protostomes. The origin of the complement system has probably occurred with the appearance of C3 and factor B (Bf), the only components found in some protostomes. Recently, it was identified, in the transcriptome of Loxosceles laeta spider venom gland, C3- and factor B-like genes of Carcinoscorpius rotundicauda and Strongylocentrotus purpuratus, respectively. These findings suggest that the central components of the complement system can be expressed on venom gland from brown spiders, playing, perhaps, a role in the defense mechanisms. This project aims to characterize the whole sequences of genes coding for C3- and factor B-like from Loxosceles laeta venom gland and analyse them from an evolutionary standpoint. (AU)

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

MYAMOTO, Daniela Tiemi. Characterization and phylogenetic analysis of genes coding for the components C3 and factor B of Complement System from Loxosceles spiders venom glands.. 2015. Doctoral Thesis - Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas (ICB/SDI) São Paulo.