title: fester, A candidate allorecognition receptor from a primitive chordate.
abstract: Histocompatibility in the primitive chordate, Botryllus schlosseri, is controlled by a single, highly polymorphic locus, the FuHC. By taking a forward genetic approach, we have identified a locus encoded near the FuHC, called fester, which is polymorphic, polygenic, and inherited in distinct haplotypes. Somatic diversification occurs through extensive alternative splicing, with each individual expressing a unique repertoire of splice forms, both membrane bound and potentially secreted, all expressed in tissues intimately associated with histocompatibility. Functional studies, via both siRNA-mediated knockdown and direct blocking by monoclonal antibodies raised against fester, were able to disrupt predicted histocompatibility outcomes. The genetic and somatic diversity, coupled to the expression and functional data, suggests that fester is a receptor involved in histocompatibility.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, California 94305, USA.
authors.forename: Spencer V
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Nyholm
authors.forename: Emmanuelle
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Passegue
authors.forename: William B
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: Ludington
authors.forename: Ayelet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Voskoboynik
authors.forename: Katrina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mitchel
authors.forename: Irving L
authors.initials: IL
authors.lastname: Weissman
authors.forename: Anthony W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: De Tomaso
mesh_terms: D000483:Alleles; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D015870:Gene Expression; D016678:Genome / Q000235:genetics; D023281:Genomics; D006648:Histocompatibility; D006649:Histocompatibility Antigens / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011506:Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D034622:RNA Interference; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D014561:Urochordata / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D006649:Histocompatibility Antigens; D011506:Proteins