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IgH loci of American alligator and saltwater crocodile shed light on IgA evolution

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Abstract

Immunoglobulin loci of two representatives of the order Crocodylia were studied from full genome sequences. Both Alligator mississippiensis and Crocodylus porosus have 13 genes for the heavy chain constant regions of immunoglobulins. The IGHC locus contains genes encoding four immunoglobulins M (IgM), one immunoglobulin D (IgD), three immunoglobulins A (IgA), three immunoglobulins Y (IgY), and two immunoglobulins D2 (IgD2). IgA and IgD2 genes were found in reverse transcriptional orientation compared to the other Ig genes. The IGHD gene contains 11 exons, four of which containing stop codons or sequence alterations. As described in other reptiles, the IgD2 is a chimeric Ig with IgA- and IgD-related domains. This work clarifies the origin of bird IgA and its evolutionary relationship with amphibian immunoglobulin X (IgX) as well as their links with mammalian IgA.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Dr. Pierre Boudinot (Virologie et Immunologie Moléculaires, INRA, 78352 Jouy-en-Josas, France) and Dr. David Olivieri (Escuela Superior de Ingeniería Informática University of Vigo, Spain) for a critical appreciation of the manuscript.

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Author notes

  1. Susana Magadán-Mompó

    Present address: Virologie et Immunologie Moléculaires, INRA, 78352, Jouy-en-Josas, France

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Servicio Gallego de Salud (SERGAS) Unidad de Inmunología, Hospital do Meixoeiro, Carretera de Madrid s/n, Vigo, 36210, Pontevedra, Spain

    Susana Magadán-Mompó, Christian Sánchez-Espinel, Francisco Gambón-Deza & Francisco Gambón-Deza

  2. Shared Unit of Immunology, University of Vigo, Vigo University Hospital Complex (Hospital Meixoeiro), Edificio de Ciencias Experimentales, Rua das Abeleiras, Campus As Lagoas-Marcosende, Vigo, 36310, Pontevedra, Spain

    Christian Sánchez-Espinel

  3. Oceanographic Center of Vigo, Spanish Institute of Oceanography (IEO), Subida a Radio Faro 50, 36390, Vigo, Pontevedra, Spain

    Susana Magadán-Mompó

Authors
  1. Susana Magadán-Mompó
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  2. Christian Sánchez-Espinel
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Correspondence to Francisco Gambón-Deza.

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Authors’ contributions

Francisco Gambón Deza directed, performed most of the work, and wrote the article. Christian Sanchez Espinel did the design and schematic representation of the results. Susana Magadán Mompó analyzed the data and wrote the article.

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Magadán-Mompó, S., Sánchez-Espinel, C. & Gambón-Deza, F. IgH loci of American alligator and saltwater crocodile shed light on IgA evolution. Immunogenetics 65, 531–541 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00251-013-0692-y

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