Sequencing and comparative analysis of the gorilla MHC genomic sequence

Area of Science:

• Genomics
• Immunology
• Evolutionary Biology

Background:

• The Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) is crucial for vertebrate immune response and linked to numerous diseases.
• MHC variation presents challenges for whole-genome shotgun sequencing but offers evolutionary insights.
• Understanding MHC structure in non-human primates aids comparative genomics and disease research.

Purpose of the Study:

• To perform clone-based sequencing and annotation of the gorilla Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) region.
• To compare the gorilla MHC structure and sequence with human and chimpanzee genomes.
• To provide a comprehensive dataset for evolutionary and comparative MHC research.

Main Methods:

• Clone-based sequencing of the gorilla genome's MHC region.
• Annotation of the sequenced MHC region.
• Comparative sequence analysis with human and chimpanzee MHC data.

Main Results:

• Gorilla MHC exhibits a trimodular RCCX cluster, differing from the human bimodular cluster.
• Identified additional copies of Class I (pseudo)genes in the gorilla MHC (Gogo-K to Gogo-A).
• Gorilla MHC genes Gogo-H and Patr-H are coding, unlike the human HLA-H pseudogene, and a Gogo-DQB2 pseudogene exists where the human gene is coding.

Conclusions:

• The gorilla MHC displays unique structural features compared to humans, impacting comparative MHC studies.
• This detailed genomic data facilitates research into MHC evolution and its role in disease.
• Freely available through the VEGA genome browser, this dataset supports the scientific community.