A uniquely high level of recombination at the HLA-B locus

Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) loci are some of the most polymorphic genes in the animal kingdom. Recently, it has been suggested that although most of the human MHC loci are relatively stable, the HLA-B locus can undergo rapid changes, especially in isolated populations. To investigate the mechanisms of HLA-B evolution we have compared the sequences of 19 HLA-B homologues from chimpanzees and bonobos to 65 HLA-B sequences. Analysis of the chimpanzee and bonobo HLA-B homologues revealed that despite obvious similarities between chimpanzee and human alleles in exon 2, there was little conservation of exon 3 between humans and the two chimpanzee species. This finding suggests that, unlike all other HLA loci, recombination has characterized the HLA-B locus and its homologues for over 5 million years.