Alternative splicing of major histocompatibility complex class II DXB transcripts in Xiphophorus fishes

Classical MHC class II glycoproteins present peptides to T cells. In Xiphophorus fishes and in the guppy, Poecilia reticulata, a classical MHC class II B-like transcript has been identified, DAB, as well as a divergent MHC class II B-like transcript, DXB. In the two species of Xiphophorus fishes studied here, X. multilineatus and X. pygmaeus, alternative splicing of the DXB transcript was observed, but not of the classical type DAB transcripts. Two alternative splice patterns were found: a 16-codon deletion and a five-nucleotide deletion that leads to an extension of the transcript. A single DXB transcript that terminates before the transmembrane region was also observed. The alternative splice pattern and the divergence of DXB from DAB suggest that in fish, DXB may have an alternate function. Alternative splicing transcripts of DXB may allow for signaling and localization of DXB within the cell.