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MHC polymorphism pre-dating speciation.

F Figueroa1, E Günther, J Klein

  • 1Max-Planck-Institut für Biologie, Abteilung Immungenetik, Tübingen, FRG.

Nature
|September 15, 1988
PubMed
Summary

The study reveals that major histocompatibility complex (MHC) polymorphism predates species formation, with allelic differences arising before the divergence of mice and rats. This suggests MHC diversity is inherited across species, challenging previous assumptions.

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The evolution of MHC class II genes.

Immunology today·2014

Area of Science:

  • Genetics
  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Immunology

Background:

  • The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) exhibits exceptionally high polymorphism, characterized by numerous alleles and significant genetic distances between them.
  • Existing theories suggest MHC diversity arises after species inception through mechanisms like recurrent mutation, which struggle to explain observed allele frequencies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the evolutionary origins of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) polymorphism.
  • To challenge the prevailing assumption that MHC diversity solely accumulates post-speciation.
  • To provide evidence for MHC polymorphism predating species divergence.

Main Methods:

  • Comparative analysis of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) alleles in related species.
  • Examination of nucleotide and amino acid differences in MHC genes.
  • Phylogenetic analysis to infer the timing of allelic divergence relative to speciation events.

Main Results:

  • Significant allelic differences in the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) were identified that predate the speciation of mice and rats.
  • These ancient allelic differences suggest a substantial portion of MHC polymorphism is inherited across species.
  • The observed genetic distances between MHC alleles are too large to be explained by recurrent mutations alone after species inception.

Conclusions:

  • A significant portion of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) polymorphism originates before speciation.
  • MHC diversity is inherited vertically from ancestral species to descendant species.
  • This ancient polymorphism plays a crucial role in the evolutionary history of immune system genes.

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