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Evolutionary Insights from Fish Transthyretin

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Recent Advances in Transthyretin Evolution, Structure and Biological Functions

Abstract

Thyroid hormones (THs) synthesised and released by the thyroid follicles in fish circulate bound to TH distributor proteins (THDPs). Transthyretin (TTR) is a tetrameric THDP with a conserved structure in vertebrates and functions as a high affinity T4 binder in tetrapods and as a dual T3/T4 binder in fish. The difference in TH affinity appears to be linked to the longer N-terminal region in piscine TTR. Relatively few studies exist on gene regulation in fish, but those that do indicate that it may be similar to those described in mammals. Recently, a family of transthyretin-like proteins was identified and shown to correspond to the enzyme 5-hydroxyisourate hydrolase (HIUase) of purine metabolism in zebra fish. A combination of in silico and laboratory-based approaches indicate that TTR has a widespread distribution but is most abundant in liver, while HIUase expression seems to be mainly in the liver. Gene transcripts encoding TTR and HIUase genes are described in representatives of the orders Cypriniformes, Salmoniformes, Pleuronectiformes, Perciformes, Tetraodontiformes, Beloniformes, Gasterosteiformes, Gadiformes and Petromyzontiformes. The evolution of TTR and HIUase genes in fish is discussed.

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Abbreviations

RBP:

Retinol binding protein

THs:

Thyroid hormones

THDP:

Thyroid hormone distributor protein

T4:

Thyroxine

TBG:

Thyroxine-binding globulin

TSH:

Thyroid stimulating hormone

TTR:

Transthyretin

TLP:

Transthyretin-like proteins

T3:

Triiodothyronine

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Acknowledgements

Some of the work described was co-financed by POCI 2010 and European Social Funds attributed by the Portuguese National Science Foundation (FCT) to project POCTI/CVT/38703/2001 and Pluriannual funding to CCMAR.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Comparative and Molecular Endocrinology Group, Centre for Marine Sciences (CCMAR), Universidade do Algarve, Campus do Gambelas, 8005-139, Faro, Portugal

    Deborah M. Power, Isabel Morgado & João C. R. Cardoso

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  1. Deborah M. Power
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  2. Isabel Morgado
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  3. João C. R. Cardoso
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Correspondence to Deborah M. Power .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. School of Medical Sciences, RMIT University, Bundoora, VIC 3083, Bundoora West Campus, Australia

    Samantha J. Richardson

  2. Medical Research Institute, Hauptman-Woodward, 700 Elliott Street, Buffalo, NY, 14203, USA

    Vivian Cody

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Power, D.M., Morgado, I., Cardoso, J.C.R. (2009). Evolutionary Insights from Fish Transthyretin. In: Richardson, S.J., Cody, V. (eds) Recent Advances in Transthyretin Evolution, Structure and Biological Functions. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-00646-3_4

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