Evolution of CCL16 in Glires (Rodentia and Lagomorpha) shows an unusual random pseudogenization pattern

Author(s)

Neves, Fabiana ^{[1, 2]} ; Abrantes, Joana ^[1] ; Lopes, Ana M. ^{[1, 2]} ; Fusinatto, Luciana A. ^[3] ; Magalhaes, Maria J. ^[1] ; van der Loo, Wessel ^[1] ; Esteves, Pedro J. ^{[1, 4, 5]}

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Porto, CIBIO, InBIO Res Network Biodivers & Evolutionary Biol, Campus Vairao, Rua Padre Armando Quintas, P-4485661 Vairao - Portugal

^[2] UMIB UP, Porto - Portugal

^[3] Univ Estado Rio De Janeiro, Inst Biol Roberto Alcantara Gomes, Dept Ecol, R Sao Francisco Xavier 524, BR-20550013 Rio De Janeiro, RJ - Brazil

^[4] Univ Porto, Fac Ciencias, Dept Biol, Rua Campo Alegre S-N, P-4169007 Porto - Portugal

^[5] CESPU, CITS, Gandra - Portugal

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: BMC Evolutionary Biology; v. 19, FEB 20 2019.
• Web of Science Citations: 1

Abstract

BackgroundThe C-C motif chemokine ligand 16 (CCL16) is a potent pro-inflammatory chemokine and a chemoattractant for monocytes and lymphocytes. In normal plasma, it is present at high concentrations and elicits its effects on cells by interacting with cell surface chemokine receptors. In the European rabbit and in rodents such as mouse, rat and guinea pig, CCL16 was identified as a pseudogene, while in the thirteen-lined ground squirrel it appears to be potentially functional. To gain insight into the evolution of this gene in the superorder Glires (rodents and lagomorphs), we amplified the CCL16 gene from eleven Leporidae and seven Ochotonidae species.ResultsWe compared our sequences with CCL16 sequences of twelve rodent species retrieved from public databases. The data show that for all leporid species studied CCL16 is a pseudogene. This is primarily due to mutations at the canonical Cys Cys motif, creating either premature stop codons, or disrupting amino acid replacements. In the Mexican cottontail, CCL16 is pseudogenized due to a frameshift deletion. Additionally, in the exon 1 (signal peptide), there are frameshift deletions present in all leporids studied. In contrast, in Ochotona species, CCL16 is potentially functional, except for an allele in Hoffmann's pika. In rodents, CCL16 is functional in a number of species, but patterns of pseudogenization similar to those observed in lagomorphs also exist.ConclusionsOur results suggest that while functional in the Glires ancestor, CCL16 underwent pseudogenization in some species. This process occurred stochastically or in specific lineages at different moments in the evolution of Glires. These observations suggest that the CCL16 had different evolutionary constrains in the Glires group that could be associated with the CCL16 biological function. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 13/21174-7 - Small-bodied vertebrates as tools for fine-scale diversification studies: the case of Euparkerella in Brazilian Atlantic Forest
• Grantee: Luciana Ardenghi Fusinatto
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• FAPESP's process: 15/11557-1 - Evolutionary implications of reduced body size in the tiny frog Euparkerella (Craugastoride, Holoadeninae)
• Grantee: Luciana Ardenghi Fusinatto
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Post-doctor