title: The sequence and phylogenesis of the ?-globin genes of Barbary sheep (Ammotragus lervia), goat (Capra hircus), European mouflon (Ovis aries musimon) and Cyprus mouflon (Ovis aries ophion).
abstract: In order to investigate the polymorphism of ?-globin chain of hemoglobin amongst caprines, the linked (I)? and (II)? globin genes of Barbary sheep (Ammotragus lervia), goat (Capra hircus), European mouflon (Ovis aries musimon), and Cyprus mouflon (Ovis aries ophion) were completely sequenced, including the 5? and 3? untranslated regions. European and Cyprus mouflons, which do not show polymorphic ? globin chains, had almost identical ? globin genes, whereas Barbary sheep exhibit two different chains encoded by two nonallelic genes. Four different ? genes were observed and sequenced in goat, validating previous observations of the existence of allelic and nonallelic polymorphism. As in other vertebrates, interchromosomal gene conversion appears to be responsible for such polymorphism. Evaluation of nucleotide sequences at the level of molecular evolution of the (I)?-globin gene family in the caprine taxa suggests a closer relationship between the genus Ammotragus and Capra. Molecular clock estimates suggest sheep-mouflon, goat-aoudad, and ancestor-caprine divergences of 2.8, 5.7, and 7.1 MYBP, respectively.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiological, Biochemical and Cell Sciences, and Center for Biotechnology Development and Biodiversity Research, University of Sassari, Italy.
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pirastru
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Multineddu
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mereu
authors.forename: Mara
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sannai
authors.forename: El Said
authors.initials: el S
authors.lastname: El Sherbini
authors.forename: Eleftherios
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hadjisterkotis
authors.forename: Andràs
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nàhlik
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Franceschi
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Manca
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Masala