[Structure and evolution of the D17LeH80-like locus in the murine t-complex]

The t complex in the proximal part of chromosome 17 is one of the most thoroughly studied regions of the mouse genome. We determined the sequence of Tu80, a molecular clone derived from microdissected fragments of chromosome 17. The sequence data demonstrated that the total length being 324 bp, Tu80 contains an open-reading frame (ORF) of 204 bp. Two fragments were detected within the ORF, one homologous to the LINE1-element, the other to the first intron of the C epsilon gene of mouse immunoglobin. A sequence designated NOV1 was isolated from the genomic library of mouse chromosome 17. NOV1 was found to contain a B2 insert, making in structurally different from Tu80. The sequences of Tu80 and NOV1 were compared with those of LINE1 and the first intron of the C epsilon gene. The results suggested that the ancestor of the Tu80-like sequence might have arisen through illegitimate recombination between the fragments of LINE1 and the C epsilon gene. It is concluded that Tu80 and NOV1 might have resulted from duplication of the ancestral sequence and following divergence. The comparative analysis also demonstrated high degree of conservation of the LINE1 fragments in Tu80 and NOV1, as well as in the LINE1 in a number of mammalian species. Based on the structure of human, rat, rabbit and mouse LINE1 fragments, and also on that of NOV1 and Tu80, phylogenetic tree has been constructed. Its topology is consistent with the accepted phylogenetic relationships among the species studied. The data available tend to support the assumption that the ancestor for the Tu80-like sequence might have arisen not later than 27-33 million years ago.