title: The macropod type 2 interferon gene shares important regulatory and functionally relevant regions with eutherian IFN-γ.
abstract: Interferon-γ (IFN-γ) is an important immune regulatory molecule that plays a significant role in internal and external modulation of the mammalian immune response to intracellular pathogens. Herein, we report the 492 nt expressed sequence for the coding domain of IFN-γ from the immune tissues of two Australian macropod marsupial species: the tammar wallaby (Macropus eugenii) and the vulnerable rufous hare-wallaby (Lagorchestes hirsutus). Both 5' and 3' untranslated regions and the coding domain of M. eugenii IFN-γ revealed the presence of motifs responsible for transcriptional regulation, mRNA regulation, post-translational modifications, and receptor binding in other mammals. Since diagnostic kits for mycobacterial disease commonly rely on the assessment of interferon levels, we can now use this information to develop reagents that can be applied in clinical and laboratory settings to further our understanding of marsupial responses to disease.
authors.affiliation: Central Queensland University, School of Medical and Applied Sciences, Rockhampton, Queensland 4702, Australia.
authors.forename: Jenifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Alsemgeest
authors.affiliation: University of Western Sydney, School of Science and Health, Penrith NSW 2751, Australia.
authors.forename: Julie M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Old
authors.affiliation: Central Queensland University, School of Medical and Applied Sciences, Rockhampton, Queensland 4702, Australia; University of Western Sydney, School of Science and Health, Penrith NSW 2751, Australia. Electronic address: lauren.young@uws.edu.au.
authors.forename: Lauren J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Young
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000235:genetics; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D007614:Macropodidae / Q000235:genetics*; D008322:Mammals / Q000235:genetics*; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D011499:Protein Processing, Post-Translational; D012045:Regulatory Sequences, Nucleic Acid / Q000235:genetics*; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid
chemical_list: D018076:DNA, Complementary; D007371:Interferon-gamma
keywords: IFN-gamma; Interferon; Marsupial; Mycobacterial disease; Promoter; Wallaby