Gene conversion in the evolution of both the H-2 and Qa class I genes of the murine major histocompatibility complex

In order to better understand the role of gene conversion in the evolution of the class I gene family of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC), we have used a computer algorithm to detect clustered sequence similarities among 24 class I DNA sequences from the H-2, Qa, and Tla regions of the murine MHC. Thirty-four statistically significant clusters were detected; individual analysis of the clusters suggested at least 25 past gene conversion or recombination events. These clusters are comparable in size to the conversions observed in the spontaneously occurring H-2Kbm and H-2Kkm2 mutations, and are distributed throughout all exons of the class I gene. Thus, gene conversion does not appear to be restricted to the regions of the class I gene encoding their antigen-presentation function. Moreover, both the highly polymorphic H-2 loci and the relatively monomorphic Qa and Tla loci appear to have participated as donors and recipients in conversion events. If gene conversion is not limited to the highly polymorphic loci of the MHC, then another factor, presumably natural selection, must be responsible for maintaining the observed differences in level of variation.