AUTHOR=Perdiguero Pedro , Goméz-Esparza Maria C. , Martín Diana , Bird Steve , Soleto Irene , Morel Esther , Díaz-Rosales Patricia , Tafalla Carolina 

TITLE=Insights Into the Evolution of the prdm1/Blimp1 Gene Family in Teleost Fish

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Immunology

VOLUME=11

YEAR=2020

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/immunology/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2020.596975

DOI=10.3389/fimmu.2020.596975

ISSN=1664-3224

ABSTRACT=<p>In mammals, Blimp1 (B lymphocyte-induced maturation protein 1) encoded by the <italic>prdm1</italic> gene and its homolog Hobit (homolog of Blimp1 in T cells) encoded by <italic>znf683</italic>, represent key transcriptional factors that control the development and differentiation of both B and T cells. Despite their essential role in the regulation of acquired immunity, this gene family has been largely unexplored in teleosts to date. Until now, one <italic>prdm1</italic> gene has been identified in most teleost species, whereas a <italic>znf683</italic> homolog has not yet been reported in any of these species. Focusing our analysis on rainbow trout (<italic>Oncorhynchus mykiss</italic>), an <italic>in silico</italic> identification and characterization of <italic>prdm1</italic>-like genes has been undertaken, confirming that <italic>prdm1</italic> and <italic>znf683</italic> evolved from a common ancestor gene, acquiring three gene copies after the teleost-specific whole genome duplication event (WGD) and six genes after the salmonid-specific WGD. Additional transcriptional studies to study how each of these genes are regulated in homeostasis, in response to a viral infection or in B cells in different differentiation stages, provide novel insights as to how this gene family evolved and how their encoded products might be implicated in the lymphocyte differentiation process in teleosts.</p>