Globin gene structure in a reptile supports the transpositional model for amniote α- and β-globin gene evolution

The haemoglobin protein, required for oxygen transportation in the body, is encoded by alpha- and beta-globin genes that are arranged in clusters. The transpositional model for the evolution of distinct alpha-globin and beta-globin clusters in amniotes is much simpler than the previously proposed whole genome duplication model. According to this model, all jawed vertebrates share one ancient region containing alpha- and beta-globin genes and several flanking genes in the order MPG-C16orf35-(alpha-beta)-GBY-LUC7L that has been conserved for more than 410 million years, whereas amniotes evolved a distinct beta-globin cluster by insertion of a transposed beta-globin gene from this ancient region into a cluster of olfactory receptors flanked by CCKBR and RRM1. It could not be determined whether this organisation is conserved in all amniotes because of the paucity of information from non-avian reptiles. To fill in this gap, we examined globin gene organisation in a squamate reptile, the Australian bearded dragon lizard, Pogona vitticeps (Agamidae). We report here that the alpha-globin cluster (HBK, HBA) is flanked by C16orf35 and GBY and is located on a pair of microchromosomes, whereas the beta-globin cluster is flanked by RRM1 on the 3' end and is located on the long arm of chromosome 3. However, the CCKBR gene that flanks the beta-globin cluster on the 5' end in other amniotes is located on the short arm of chromosome 5 in P. vitticeps, indicating that a chromosomal break between the beta-globin cluster and CCKBR occurred at least in the agamid lineage. Our data from a reptile species provide further evidence to support the transpositional model for the evolution of beta-globin gene cluster in amniotes.