Comparative Analysis of Lactotransferrin Nucleotide Sequences in the Florida Manatee and Other Mammals
Type of Presentation
Poster Session
Location
University Library
Start Date
4-9-2026 11:30 AM
End Date
4-9-2026 12:45 PM
Abstract
In reproduction, the biological molecules that make up the seminal plasma, or ejaculate, of an organism perform many vital functions in the reproductive process. The Florida Manatee, Trichechus manatus latirostris, possesses an ejaculate that is primarily composed of one protein, Lactotransferrin (LTF). LTF is predicted to have antimicrobial properties and may help facilitate reproduction in an aquatic environment. We sought to understand how LTF may have evolved to contribute to manatee reproduction. We constructed a gene tree to look at the evolution of LTF across mammals. We then looked for patterns of adaptive selection within the gene to determine if certain regions of the gene were under positive selection and could potentially explain the purpose of LTF in manatee ejaculates. We found that LTF evolved rapidly in the manatee evolutionary lineage, accumulating more mutations than other species. Further, multiple locations in the gene were under positive selection. These results have helped guide our understanding of molecular evolution in manatees and have provided potential clues about its role in reproduction and species survival, which is important for conservation efforts, given that relatively little is known about the order Sirenia. These results could have future implications for studying artificial insemination in this and other aquatic mammals where relatively little is still known about the interactions between the sexes.
Faculty / Staff Sponsor
Melissa Plakke
Comparative Analysis of Lactotransferrin Nucleotide Sequences in the Florida Manatee and Other Mammals
University Library
In reproduction, the biological molecules that make up the seminal plasma, or ejaculate, of an organism perform many vital functions in the reproductive process. The Florida Manatee, Trichechus manatus latirostris, possesses an ejaculate that is primarily composed of one protein, Lactotransferrin (LTF). LTF is predicted to have antimicrobial properties and may help facilitate reproduction in an aquatic environment. We sought to understand how LTF may have evolved to contribute to manatee reproduction. We constructed a gene tree to look at the evolution of LTF across mammals. We then looked for patterns of adaptive selection within the gene to determine if certain regions of the gene were under positive selection and could potentially explain the purpose of LTF in manatee ejaculates. We found that LTF evolved rapidly in the manatee evolutionary lineage, accumulating more mutations than other species. Further, multiple locations in the gene were under positive selection. These results have helped guide our understanding of molecular evolution in manatees and have provided potential clues about its role in reproduction and species survival, which is important for conservation efforts, given that relatively little is known about the order Sirenia. These results could have future implications for studying artificial insemination in this and other aquatic mammals where relatively little is still known about the interactions between the sexes.