Exonic polymorphism vs intronic simple repeat hypervariability in MHC-DRB genes

Gene products encoded by the major histocompatibility complex often exhibit a high degree of polymorphism. In humans the HLA-DR polymorphism is due to more than 50 alleles with varying exon 2 sequences. Each group of DRB alleles contains a certain form of the basic simple repeat motif (gt)_n(ga)_m in intron 2. Identical alleles can be differentiated on the basis of the hypervariable repeat. In this study focused on cattle (Bos taurus) we identified different Bota-DRB alleles in a limited survey by amplification via polymerase chain reaction and sequencing. In addition DRB exon 2 sequences were also obtained from eight additional hoofed animal species (seven horned artiodactyls and one pig) revealing artiodactyl-specific polymorphic and nonpolymorphic substitutions. In the genus Bos the intronic simple repeat variability was compared with exonic DRB polymorphism. As in humans all Bota-DRB exons were always associated with specifically organized basic simple repeat structures. Yet the extent of simple repeat variability was lower in cattle compared to humans. Selective breeding in the process of domestication might be responsible for the diminished intronic hypervariability. Nevertheless, the hypermutable simple repeat sequences have been preserved in the same position and with the same principal structure for at least 70 × 10⁶ years of evolution. Unexpectedly, the rate of intronic simple repeat and exonic changes appear quite similar.