The evolution of vertebrate Toll-like receptors.
The complete sequences of Takifugu Toll-like receptor (TLR) loci and gene predictions from many draft genomes enable comprehensive molecular phylogenetic analysis. Strong selective pressure for recognition of and response to pathogen-associated molecular patterns has maintained a largely unchanging TLR recognition in all vertebrates. There are six major families of vertebrate TLRs. This repertoire is distinct from that of invertebrates. TLRs within a family recognize a general class of pathogen-associated molecular patterns. Most vertebrates have exactly one gene ortholog for each TLR family. The family including TLR1 has more species-specific adaptations than other families. A major family including TLR11 is represented in humans only by a pseudogene. Coincidental evolution plays a minor role in TLR evolution. The sequencing phase of this study produced finished genomic sequences for the 12 Takifugu rubripes TLRs. In addition, we have produced >70 gene models, including sequences from the opossum, chicken, frog, dog, sea urchin, and sea squirt.
Institute for Systems Biology, Seattle, WA 98103, USA. jroach@systemsbiology.org
Jared C
JC
Roach
Gustavo
G
Glusman
Lee
L
Rowen
Amardeep
A
Kaur
Maureen K
MK
Purcell
Kelly D
KD
Smith
Leroy E
LE
Hood
Alan
A
Aderem
D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D019295:Computational Biology / Q000379:methods; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D040461:Gene Components; D023281:Genomics / Q000379:methods; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics*; D008957:Models, Genetic; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D005810:Multigene Family / Q000235:genetics*; D010802:Phylogeny; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000235:genetics*; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D013045:Species Specificity; D023741:Takifugu / Q000235:genetics; D051194:Toll-Like Receptor 1; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors; D014714:Vertebrates / Q000235:genetics*
D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D051194:Toll-Like Receptor 1; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors