Sequence, expression, and polymorphism of the Peromyscus leucopus Mhc class Ib gene, M4

The H2 M region harbors about 20 class I genes or gene fragments the function of which are largely obscure. The rat Mhc ( RT1) appears to contain several orthologs of H2 M region genes although orthologs in more distantly related species have yet to be clearly identified. In this report, the sequence of a genomic clone containing a Peromyscus leucopus Mhc ( Pele) class I gene is presented and based on sequence similarity was found to be the Pele ortholog of H2-M4. Unlike H2-M4, which is a pseudogene, PeleM4 appeared to be an intact Mhc class Ib gene. Appropriately splice PeleM4 mRNA transcripts were detected in the liver, lung, and thymus. Polymorphism of PeleM4 was examined by sequencing exon 2 and 3 of the PeleM4 gene from seven different Pele haplotypes and six PeleM4 alleles were identified. These results suggest that the existence of some H2 M region class Ib genes predates the divergence of Peromyscus and Mus genera which occurred 40-60 million years ago and provide an example of unique pathways in the evolution of Mhc class Ib genes.