|
|
||||||||


* Department of Biochemistry, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, Fukushima, Japan;
Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, University of Tokyo, and
Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Sciences, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Tokyo, Japan
Mannose-binding lectin-associated serine proteases (MASPs) are involved in complement activation through the lectin pathway. To elucidate the phylogenetic origin of MASP and a primordial complement system, we cloned two MASP cDNAs from amphioxus (Branchiostoma belcheri) of the cephalochordates, considered to be the closest relative of vertebrates. The two sequences, orthologues of mammalian MASP-1 and MASP-3, were produced by alternative processing of RNA from a single gene consisting of a common H chain-encoding region and two L chain-encoding regions, a structure which is similar to that of the human MASP1/3 gene. We also isolated two MASP genes from the ascidian Halocynthia roretzi (urochordates) and found that each of them consists simply of an H chain-encoding region and a single L chain-encoding region. The difference in structure between the ascidian MASP genes and the amphioxus/mammalian MASP genes suggests that a prototype gene was converted to the MASP1/3-type gene possessing two L chain-encoding regions at an early stage of evolution before the divergence of amphioxus. This conclusion is supported by the presence of MASP-1 and MASP-3 homologues in almost all vertebrates, as demonstrated by the cloning of novel cDNA sequences representing lamprey (cyclostomes) MASP-1 and Xenopus MASP-3. The ancient origin of MASP-1 and MASP-3 suggests that they have crucial functions common to all species which emerged after cephalochordates.
This article has been cited by other articles:
![]() |
S. E. Degn, A. G. Hansen, R. Steffensen, C. Jacobsen, J. C. Jensenius, and S. Thiel MAp44, a Human Protein Associated with Pattern Recognition Molecules of the Complement System and Regulating the Lectin Pathway of Complement Activation J. Immunol., December 1, 2009; 183(11): 7371 - 7378. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
K. Abe, Y. Endo, N. Nakazawa, K. Kanno, M. Okubo, T. Hoshino, and T. Fujita Unique Phenotypes of C1s Deficiency and Abnormality Caused by Two Compound Heterozygosities in a Japanese Family J. Immunol., February 1, 2009; 182(3): 1681 - 1688. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
Y. Yu, H. Huang, Y. Wang, Y. Yu, S. Yuan, S. Huang, M. Pan, K. Feng, and A. Xu A Novel C1q Family Member of Amphioxus Was Revealed to Have a Partial Function of Vertebrate C1q Molecule J. Immunol., November 15, 2008; 181(10): 7024 - 7032. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
S. Huang, S. Yuan, L. Guo, Y. Yu, J. Li, T. Wu, T. Liu, M. Yang, K. Wu, H. Liu, et al. Genomic analysis of the immune gene repertoire of amphioxus reveals extraordinary innate complexity and diversity Genome Res., July 1, 2008; 18(7): 1112 - 1126. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
M. Nakao, T. Kajiya, Y. Sato, T. Somamoto, Y. Kato-Unoki, M. Matsushita, M. Nakata, T. Fujita, and T. Yano Lectin Pathway of Bony Fish Complement: Identification of Two Homologs of the Mannose-Binding Lectin Associated with MASP2 in the Common Carp (Cyprinus carpio) J. Immunol., October 15, 2006; 177(8): 5471 - 5479. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
Y. M. Kim, K.-I. Park, K.-S. Choi, R. A. Alvarez, R. D. Cummings, and M. Cho Lectin from the Manila Clam Ruditapes philippinarum Is Induced upon Infection with the Protozoan Parasite Perkinsus olseni J. Biol. Chem., September 15, 2006; 281(37): 26854 - 26864. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
M. Takahashi, D. Iwaki, A. Matsushita, M. Nakata, M. Matsushita, Y. Endo, and T. Fujita Cloning and characterization of mannose-binding lectin from lamprey (agnathans). J. Immunol., April 15, 2006; 176(8): 4861 - 4868. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
N. J. Lynch, S.-u.-H. Khan, C. M. Stover, S. M. Sandrini, D. Marston, J. S. Presanis, and W. J. Schwaeble Composition of the Lectin Pathway of Complement in Gallus gallus: Absence of Mannan-Binding Lectin-Associated Serine Protease-1 in Birds J. Immunol., April 15, 2005; 174(8): 4998 - 5006. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
M. Matsushita, A. Matsushita, Y. Endo, M. Nakata, N. Kojima, T. Mizuochi, and T. Fujita Origin of the classical complement pathway: Lamprey orthologue of mammalian C1q acts as a lectin PNAS, July 6, 2004; 101(27): 10127 - 10131. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
S. Zundel, S. Cseh, M. Lacroix, M. R. Dahl, M. Matsushita, J.-P. Andrieu, W. J. Schwaeble, J. C. Jensenius, T. Fujita, G. J. Arlaud, et al. Characterization of Recombinant Mannan-Binding Lectin-Associated Serine Protease (MASP)-3 Suggests an Activation Mechanism Different from That of MASP-1 and MASP-2 J. Immunol., April 1, 2004; 172(7): 4342 - 4350. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
| HOME | HELP | FEEDBACK | SUBSCRIPTIONS | ARCHIVE | SEARCH | TABLE OF CONTENTS |