Data from: Repurposed transcriptomic data facilitate discovery of innate immunity Toll-Like Receptor (TLR) genes across Lophotrochozoa

The growing volume of genomic data from across life represents
opportunities for deriving valuable biological information from data that
were initially collected for another purpose. Here, we use transcriptomes
collected for phylogenomic studies to search for toll-like receptor (TLR)
genes in poorly sampled lophotrochozoan clades (Annelida, Mollusca,
Brachiopoda, Phoronida, and Entoprocta) and one ecdysozoan clade
(Priapulida). TLR genes are involved in innate immunity across animals by
recognizing potential microbial infection. They have an extracellular
leucine-rich repeat (LRR) domain connected to a transmembrane domain and
an intracellular toll/interleukin-1 receptor (TIR) domain. Consequently,
these genes are important in initiating a signaling pathway to trigger
defense. We found at least one TLR ortholog in all but two taxa examined,
suggesting that a broad array of lophotrochozoans may have innate immune
systems similar to those observed in vertebrates and arthropods.
Comparison to the SMART database confirmed the presence of both the LRR
and the TIR protein motifs characteristic of TLR genes. Because we looked
at only one transcriptome per species, discovery of TLR genes was limited
for most taxa. However, several TRL-like genes that vary in the number and
placement of LRR domains were found in phoronids. Additionally, several
contigs contained LRR domains but lacked TIR domains, suggesting they were
not TLRs. Many of these LRR-containing contigs had other domains (e.g.,
immunoglobin) and are likely involved in innate immunity.