DNA variation of the mammalian major histocompatibility complex reflects genomic diversity and population history

Journal Article · Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1990 · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.87.2.836· OSTI ID:6708718

Yuhki, Naoya; O'Brien, S J ^[1]

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1. National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD (USA)

The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) is a multigene complex of tightly linked homologous genes that encode cell surface antigens that play a key role in immune regulation and response to foreign antigens. In most species, MHC gene products display extreme antigenic polymorphism, and their variability has been interpreted to reflect an adaptive strategy for accommodating rapidly evolving infectious agents that periodically afflict natural populations. Determination of the extent of MHC variation has been limited to populations in which skin grafting is feasible or for which serological reagents have been developed. The authors present here a quantitative analysis of restriction fragment length polymorphism of MHC class I genes in several mammalian species (cats, rodents, humans) known to have very different levels of genetic diversity based on functional MHC assays and on allozyme surveys. When homologous class I probes were employed, a notable concordance was observed between the extent of MHC restriction fragment variation and functional MHC variation detected by skin grafts or genome-wide diversity estimated by allozyme screens. These results confirm the genetically depauperate character of the African cheetah, Acinonyx jubatus, and the Asiatic lion, Panthera leo persica; further, they support the use of class I MHC molecular reagents in estimating the extent and character of genetic diversity in natural populations.

• OSTI ID: 6708718
• Journal Information: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America; (USA), Vol. 87:2; ISSN 0027-8424
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
HISTOCOMPATIBILITY COMPLEX
RFLPS
SPECIES DIVERSITY
ANTIGENS
BIOLOGICAL EVOLUTION
BIOLOGICAL VARIABILITY
CATS
GENES
GENETIC VARIABILITY
MAN
PHOSPHORUS 32
ANIMALS
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
DAYS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
ISOTOPES
LIGHT NUCLEI
MAMMALS
NUCLEI
ODD-ODD NUCLEI
PHOSPHORUS ISOTOPES
PRIMATES
RADIOISOTOPES
VERTEBRATES
550201* - Biochemistry- Tracer Techniques