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Koike C, Fung JJ, Geller DA, Kannagi R, Libert T, Luppi P, Nakashima I, Profozich J, Rudert W, Sharma SB, Starzl TE, Trucco M. Molecular basis of evolutionary loss of the alpha 1,3-galactosyltransferase gene in higher primates. J Biol Chem 2002; 277:10114-20. [PMID: 11773054 PMCID: PMC3018882 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m110527200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Galactose-alpha1,3-galactose (alphaGal) epitopes, the synthesis of which requires the enzyme product of alpha1,3-galactosyltransferase (alpha1,3GT), are sugar chains on the cell surface of most mammalian species. Notable exceptions are higher primates including Old World monkeys, apes, and humans. The alphaGal-negative species as well as mice with deletion of the alpha1,3GT gene produce abundant anti-alphaGal antibodies. The evolutionary loss of alphaGal epitopes has been attributed to point mutations in the coding region of the gene. Because no transcripts could be found in the higher primate species with Northern blot analysis, a potential alternative explanation has been loss of upstream regulation of the gene. Here, we have demonstrated that the rhesus promoter is functional. More importantly, a variety of full-length transcripts were detected with sensitive PCR-based methods in the tissues of rhesus monkeys, orangutans, and humans. Five crucial mutations were delineated in the coding region of the human and rhesus and three in the orangutan, any one of which could be responsible for inactivation of the alpha1,3GT gene. Two of the mutations were shared by all three higher primates. These findings, which elucidate the molecular basis for the evolutionary loss of alphaGal expression, may have implications in medical research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chihiro Koike
- Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute and Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213
- Division of Immunogenetics, Department of Pediatrics, Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213
- To whom correspondence should be addressed: Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute, University of Pittsburgh, 3601 Fifth Ave., Falk Clinic, 4th Fl., Pittsburgh, PA 15213. Tel.: 412-624-0112; Fax: 412-624-0192;
| | - John J. Fung
- Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute and Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213
| | - David A. Geller
- Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute and Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213
| | - Reiji Kannagi
- Department of Pathology, Aichi Cancer Research Center, 81-1159 Kanokoden, Chikusa, Nagoya 465, Japan
| | - Therese Libert
- Division of Immunogenetics, Department of Pediatrics, Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213
| | - Patrizia Luppi
- Division of Immunogenetics, Department of Pediatrics, Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213
| | - Izumi Nakashima
- Department of Immunology, Nagoya University School of Medicine, 65 Tsurumai, Showa, Nagoya 466, Japan
| | - Jennifer Profozich
- Division of Immunogenetics, Department of Pediatrics, Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213
| | - William Rudert
- Division of Immunogenetics, Department of Pediatrics, Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213
| | - Sugandha B. Sharma
- Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute and Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213
- Division of Immunogenetics, Department of Pediatrics, Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213
| | - Thomas E. Starzl
- Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute and Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213
| | - Massimo Trucco
- Division of Immunogenetics, Department of Pediatrics, Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213
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