Comparative analysis of the CD209 (DC-SIGN)-related genes in primates

Arman A. Bashirova
Laboratory of Genomic Diversity
NCI-Frederick
Bldg 560
Rm 21-70
Frederick MD, 21702
telephone: 301-846-5323
fax: 301-846-1909
email: bashirovaa@mail.ncifcrf.gov
prestype: Poster
presenter: Arman A. Bashirova

Arman A. Bashirova, Jie Cheng, Maureen P. Martin, and Mary Carrington

CD209(DC-SIGN) and CD209L(DC-SIGNR/L-SIGN) were recently identified on human chromosome 19 as highly similar genes encoding C-type lectins that serve as adhesion receptors for ICAM-2/3 and HIV-1 gp120. The two genes are expressed differentially in human tissues, with CD209 expressed mainly on dendritic cells and CD209L expressed on sinusoidal cells of liver and lymph node. As the two genes are obviously products of recent duplication, we were interested in their evolutionary history. Using PCR/sequencing and Southern blot techniques, we confirmed the presence of CD209 in old world primates. Also, we identified a third gene of this family that we named CD209L2 in old world monkeys and apes, including baboons, macaques, gibbons, orangutans, and chimpanzees. Interestingly, there was no evidence for an orthologue of CD209L2 in humans. On the other hand, CD209L (which we now propose to call CD209L1) appears to be absent in old world monkeys, and present only in apes and humans. Our data suggest that the CD209 gene family has undergone recent evolutionary processes involving duplication/deletion