Event Title
Poster: Alternative Splicing in the Primate Immune System
Location
Moakley Atrium
Start Time
16-5-2007 3:00 PM
End Time
16-5-2007 4:30 PM
Description
To increase complexity, many human genes code for more than one protein by a process called alternative splicing. Genes of the immune system have one of the highest rates of alternative splicing, most likely because the resulting increase in protein variability enhances the immune system’s ability to protect humans against a wide range of microorganisms. To further our understanding of alternative splicing in the primate immune system, studies were undertaken to characterize alternative splicing patterns of the NKG2A and NKG2C genes in marmosets and squirrel monkeys, both New World monkey species. Interestingly, marmosets express an alternatively spliced version of NKG2A in which the predicted protein lacks the membrane-spanning region. In contrast, squirrel monkeys do not express this splice variant, providing a ideal model to study the regulation of alternative splicing in closely related species.
Poster: Alternative Splicing in the Primate Immune System
Moakley Atrium
To increase complexity, many human genes code for more than one protein by a process called alternative splicing. Genes of the immune system have one of the highest rates of alternative splicing, most likely because the resulting increase in protein variability enhances the immune system’s ability to protect humans against a wide range of microorganisms. To further our understanding of alternative splicing in the primate immune system, studies were undertaken to characterize alternative splicing patterns of the NKG2A and NKG2C genes in marmosets and squirrel monkeys, both New World monkey species. Interestingly, marmosets express an alternatively spliced version of NKG2A in which the predicted protein lacks the membrane-spanning region. In contrast, squirrel monkeys do not express this splice variant, providing a ideal model to study the regulation of alternative splicing in closely related species.