A Gene for Compatibility Histocompatibility is the ability of an organism to distinguish its own tissue from those of another through the recognition of surface markers. Understanding “self-recognition” is important for medical purposes such as transplanting foreign blood or tissue without a negative response. However, relatively little is known about the underlying mechanisms of histocompatibility in lower organisms. Thus, Voskoboynik and colleagues examined the genetic basis for the transplantation reaction of the Botryllus schlosseri—a colonial urochordate also known as ‘sea squirts’. They found that a single gene determined whether the organism had an acceptance or rejection response. They termed this gene “Botryllus histocompatibility factor” (BHF) and analyzed its sequence and expression patterns. Voskoboynik et al. found that polymorphisms within the first 100 amino acids could predict the outcomes of every histocompatibility reaction. Even more, when they blocked BHF in the urochordates, no acceptance or rejection reactions occurred despite constant contact. This study has implications for transplant compatibility as well as maternal tolerance of the fetus. To learn more, read the Report here: scim.ag/15qX4Pe
Posted on: Sun, 04 Aug 2013 17:13:53 +0000