title: Mapping and genotypic analysis of the NK-lysin gene in chicken.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Antimicrobial peptides (AMP) are important elements of the first line of defence against pathogens in animals. NK-lysin is a cationic AMP that plays a critical role in innate immunity. The chicken NK-lysin gene has been cloned and its antimicrobial and anticancer activity has been described but its location in the chicken genome remains unknown. Here, we mapped the NK-lysin gene and examined the distribution of a functionally significant single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) among different chicken inbred lines and heritage breeds.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A 6000 rad radiation hybrid panel (ChickRH6) was used to map the NK-lysin gene to the distal end of chromosome 22. Two additional genes, the adipocyte enhancer-binding protein 1-like gene (AEBP1) and the DNA polymerase delta subunit 2-like (POLD2) gene, are located in the same NW_003779909 contig as NK-lysin, and were thus indirectly mapped to chromosome 22 as well. Previously, we reported a functionally significant SNP at position 271 of the NK-lysin coding sequence in two different chicken breeds. Here, we examined this SNP and found that the A allele appears to be more common than the G allele in these heritage breeds and inbred lines.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The chicken NK-lysin gene mapped to the distal end of chromosome 22. Two additional genes, AEBP1 and POLD2, were indirectly mapped to chromosome 22 also. SNP analyses revealed that the A allele, which encodes a peptide with a higher antimicrobial activity, is more common than the G allele in our tested inbred lines and heritage breeds.
authors.forename: Mi Ok
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Ence
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Mireille
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Morisson
authors.forename: Alain
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vignal
authors.forename: Yong-Zhen
authors.initials: YZ
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Hans H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: William M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Muir
authors.forename: Susan J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Lamont
authors.forename: Hyun Soon
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Lillehoj
authors.forename: Sung Hyen
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Texas A & M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA. jwomack@cvm.tamu.edu.
authors.forename: James E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Womack
mesh_terms: D000483:Alleles; D000818:Animals; D030161:Avian Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D001947:Breeding; D002268:Carboxypeptidases / Q000235:genetics; D002645:Chickens / Q000235:genetics*; D002874:Chromosome Mapping / Q000662:veterinary; D002875:Chromosomes / Q000235:genetics; D004258:DNA Polymerase III / Q000235:genetics; D005787:Gene Frequency; D005819:Genetic Markers; D016678:Genome; D005838:Genotype; D010641:Phenotype; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D011510:Proteolipids / Q000235:genetics*; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA / Q000662:veterinary
chemical_list: D030161:Avian Proteins; D005819:Genetic Markers; C093238:NK-lysin; D011510:Proteolipids; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D004258:DNA Polymerase III; D002268:Carboxypeptidases