The natural cytotoxicity receptor genes in the family Felidae

Natural killer (NK) cells belong to the innate immune system. The germline‐encoded natural killer cell receptors represent activating and inhibitory receptors regulating multiple NK cell activities. The natural cytotoxicity receptors (NCRs) are activating natural cytotoxicity triggering receptors 1, 2, and 3 (NKp46, NKp44, and NKp30), encoded by the genes NCR1 , NCR2 , and NCR3 , respectively. NCRs may be expressed in different cell types engaged in mechanisms of innate and adaptive immunity. The family Felidae, comprising the domestic cat and a wide variety of free‐ranging species represents a well‐suited model for biomedical and evolutionary studies. We characterized the NCR1 , NCR2 , and NCR3 genes in a panel of felid species. We confirmed the presence of potentially functional genes NCR1 , NCR2 , and NCR3 in all species. All three genes are conserved within the family and are similar to other phylogenetically related mammalian families. The NCR1 and NCR2 phylogenetic trees based on both nucleotide and protein sequences corresponded to the current zoological taxonomy, with some exceptions suggesting effects of different selection pressures in some species. Highly conserved NCR3 sequences did not allow a robust phylogenetic analysis. Most interspecific differences both at the nucleotide and protein level were found in NCR2 . Within species, the most polymorphic CDS was detected in NCR1 . Selection analyses indicated the effects of purifying selection on individual amino acid sites in all three genes. In stray cats, a rather high intraspecific diversity was observed.