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Home / Equine Research Bank / Nature / Evidence that the recently discovered theta 1-globin gene is...
Nature1987; 326(6114); 717-720; doi: 10.1038/326717a0

Evidence that the recently discovered theta 1-globin gene is functional in higher primates.

Abstract: A new subfamily of the alpha-globin-like family has recently been identified in higher primates, rabbit, galago and possibly the horse. One member of this subfamily, theta 1, is downstream from the adult alpha 1-globin gene. In orang-utan, but not in rabbit or galago, the theta 1-gene appears to be structurally intact, suggesting that it may be functional in this species. The orang-utan theta 1-gene possesses initiation and termination codons, and the predicted polypeptide differs from the orang-utan alpha 1-globin by 55 amino acids. The upstream promoter boxes CCAAT and ATA are present, although approximately 150 base pairs (bp) farther upstream than in the alpha 1-gene. This structural difference in the promoter between the orang-utan theta 1- and alpha 1-genes has led Proudfoot to speculate that the theta 1-gene may be inactive. We have now cloned the theta 1- and alpha 1-globin genes from the olive baboon, and have compared their sequences with those of orang-utan. The unique promoter structure of the orang-utan theta 1-gene is highly conserved in baboon, although the orang-utan and baboon diverged nearly 30 million years ago. The coding sequences of the two theta 1-genes differ by only 6.3% with 22 out of 27 nucleotide substitutions being codon third position silent changes. These data support the view that the theta 1-gene has been functional in the baboon, orang-utan, and by implication, in man. We also estimate that the duplication event generating the theta 1- and alpha-globin-like subfamilies may have occurred as much as 260 million years ago.
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Publication Date: 1987-04-16 PubMed ID: 3561513DOI: 10.1038/326717a0Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Comparative Study
  • Journal Article
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  • Non-U.S. Gov't
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  • U.S. Gov't
  • P.H.S.

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research paper focuses on the discovery of a new globin gene, referred to as theta 1, in higher primates and other mammals. Researchers found that the gene, while possibly inactive in other species examined such as rabbits, appears to be functional in orangutans and potentially in humans too.

Identification of the Theta 1-Globin Gene

  • Researchers have recently identified a new subfamily of the alpha-globin-like gene family in higher primates, rabbits, galagos, and possibly horses.
  • The theta 1-globin gene, a member of this new subfamily, was found downstream from the adult alpha 1-globin gene in these animals.

Examining the Functionality of the Theta 1-Globin Gene

  • In orangutans, the theta 1-globin gene appears structurally intact, unlike in rabbits or galagos, indicating that it might have a functional role in this species.
  • The intact structure encompasses the possession of initiation and termination codons, essential in DNA transcription and translation, respectively.
  • The theta 1-globin polypeptide in orangutans differs from the alpha 1-globin by 55 amino acids, suggesting a distinct functionality.

Possible Inactivity of the Theta 1-Globin Gene

  • The researchers noted that the promoter regions (which initiate gene transcription) for the theta 1-globin gene are located about 150 base pairs farther upstream than in the alpha 1-globin gene.
  • This structural difference made researchers hypothesize that the theta 1-globin gene might be inactive.

Investigating Theta 1-Globin Gene Function in Baboons

  • The researchers cloned the theta 1-globin and alpha 1-globin genes from the olive baboon and compared their sequences to those found in orangutans.
  • They discovered that the unique promoter structure of the orangutan theta 1-globin gene was highly conserved in baboons, despite the two species diverging nearly 30 million years ago.
  • The coding sequences of the two theta 1-globin genes differed by only 6.3% with most nucleotide substitutions being ‘silent’ changes that don’t affect the resulting protein.

Implications for Human Genes

  • The closely conserved structure of the theta 1-globin gene between species strongly supports the view that this gene is functional in baboons, orangutans, and possibly in humans.
  • The study surmises the duplication event that likely created the theta 1-globin and alpha-globin-like subfamilies could have happened as far back as 260 million years ago.

Cite This Article

APA
Shaw JP, Marks J, Shen CK. (1987). Evidence that the recently discovered theta 1-globin gene is functional in higher primates. Nature, 326(6114), 717-720. https://doi.org/10.1038/326717a0

Publication

Nature
ISSN: 0028-0836
NlmUniqueID: 0410462
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 326
Issue: 6114
Pages: 717-720

Researcher Affiliations

Shaw, J P
    Marks, J
      Shen, C K

        MeSH Terms

        • Amino Acid Sequence
        • Animals
        • Base Sequence
        • Biological Evolution
        • Galago / genetics
        • Genes
        • Globins / genetics
        • Horses / genetics
        • Humans
        • Papio / genetics
        • Phylogeny
        • Pongo pygmaeus / genetics
        • Primates / genetics
        • Rabbits
        • Species Specificity

        Citations

        This article has been cited 8 times.
        1. Cooper SJ, Wheeler D, Hope RM, Dolman G, Saint KM, Gooley AA, Holland RA. The alpha-globin gene family of an Australian marsupial, Macropus eugenii: the long evolutionary history of the theta-globin gene and its functional status in mammals. J Mol Evol 2005 May;60(5):653-64.
          doi: 10.1007/s00239-004-0247-9pubmed: 15983873google scholar: lookup
        2. Bailey AD, Shen CK. Sequential insertion of Alu family repeats into specific genomic sites of higher primates. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 1993 Aug 1;90(15):7205-9.
          doi: 10.1073/pnas.90.15.7205pubmed: 8394013google scholar: lookup
        3. Gonzalez-Redondo JM, Han IS, Gu YC, Huisman TH. Nucleotide sequence of the human theta 1-globin gene. Biochem Genet 1988 Apr;26(3-4):207-11.
          doi: 10.1007/BF00561460pubmed: 3408475google scholar: lookup
        4. Ley TJ, Maloney KA, Gordon JI, Schwartz AL. Globin gene expression in erythroid human fetal liver cells. J Clin Invest 1989 Mar;83(3):1032-8.
          doi: 10.1172/JCI113944pubmed: 2921315google scholar: lookup
        5. Shaw JP, Marks J, Shen CC, Shen CK. Anomalous and selective DNA mutations of the Old World monkey alpha-globin genes. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 1989 Feb;86(4):1312-6.
          doi: 10.1073/pnas.86.4.1312pubmed: 2919180google scholar: lookup
        6. Ramsay M, Jenkins T. Alpha-globin gene cluster haplotypes in the Kalahari San and southern African Bantu-speaking blacks. Am J Hum Genet 1988 Oct;43(4):527-33.
          pubmed: 2902790
        7. Leung SO, Whitelaw E, Proudfoot NJ. Transcriptional and translational analysis of the human theta globin gene. Nucleic Acids Res 1989 Oct 25;17(20):8283-300.
          doi: 10.1093/nar/17.20.8283pubmed: 2813063google scholar: lookup
        8. Kim JH, Yu CY, Bailey A, Hardison R, Shen CK. Unique sequence organization and erythroid cell-specific nuclear factor-binding of mammalian theta 1 globin promoters. Nucleic Acids Res 1989 Jul 25;17(14):5687-700.
          doi: 10.1093/nar/17.14.5687pubmed: 2569721google scholar: lookup
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