title: Cloning of a glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored alpha-2-macroglobulin cDNA from the ascidian, Ciona intestinalis, and its possible role in immunity.
abstract: Molecular approaches were used to study thiolester-containing genes in the ascidian, Ciona intestinalis. RT-PCR, RACE and genome mining revealed that this animal expresses not only conventional alpha-2-macroglobulin (alpha2m) and two forms of C3 but also a gene encoding a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored alpha2m. Previously, GPI-anchored alpha2ms have been reported only for humans and mice. We propose that GPI-anchored alpha2ms constitute a third subgroup of the alpha2m superfamily and may represent an important evolutionary stage in the phylogeny of the thiolester containing proteins. Its occurrence in an ascidian shows its origin pre-dates the evolution of the vertebrates. In C. intestinalis this GPI-anchored alpha2m, designated Ciona alpha2m-GPI, is expressed in the hepatopancreas, circulating coelomic blood cells and the gut of adults. It is also expressed in 3-5 days old larvae. Its tissue distribution coupled with its sequence characteristics and unusual domain structure indicate that the encoded protein probably assists in host defence by entrapping and inhibiting proteases from micro-organisms.
authors.affiliation: Comparative Immunology Group, University of St. Andrews, Gatty Marine Laboratory, East Sands, St. Andrews, Fife KY16 8LB, Scotland, UK.
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Hammond
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nakao
authors.forename: V J
authors.initials: VJ
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002938:Ciona intestinalis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D017261:Glycosylphosphatidylinositols / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D000511:alpha-Macroglobulins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D018076:DNA, Complementary; D017261:Glycosylphosphatidylinositols; D000511:alpha-Macroglobulins