The phylogenetic relationships of immunoglobulin allotypes and 7S immunoglobulin isotypes of chickens and other phasianoids (turkey, pheasant, quail)

Pheasants, quail and turkeys from different geographical locations were surveyed for the presence of eight 7S Ig and four IgM chicken allotypes. No IgM and only two 7S Ig allotypes were detected. Chicken 7S Ig allotypic specificity G-1.7 cross-reacted with pheasant and turkey isotypic specificities, and was absent in quail. The other determinant (G-1.9) cross-reacted with an allotype found only in turkeys and golden pheasants. These data suggest that G-1.7 and G-1.9 are probably phylogenetically ancient determinants and that polymorphism of chicken immunoglobulins arose after divergence of chickens from other phasianoid birds. Based on the allotypic and isotypic analysis of the 7S Ig antigenic determinants, turkey 7S Ig was as closely related to chicken 7S Ig as was pheasant 7S Ig. Jungle fowl, the ancestor of chickens, had most of the chicken 7S Ig and IgM allotypes present as polymorphic markers.     

The phylogenetic relationships of immunoglobulin allotypes and 7S immunoglobulin isotypes of chickens and other phasianoids (turkey,pheasant, quail)

Pheasants, quail and turkeys from different geographical locations were surveyed for the presence of eight 7S Ig and four IgM chicken allotypes. No IgM and only two 7S Ig allotypes were detected. Chicken 7S Ig allotypic specificity G-1.7 cross-reacted with pheasant and turkey isotypic specificities, and was absent in quail. The other determinant (G-1.9) cross-reacted with an allotype found only in turkeys and golden pheasants. These data suggest that G-1.7 and G-1.9 are probably phylogenetically ancient determinants and that polymorphism of chicken immunoglobulins arose after divergence of chickens from other phasianoid birds. Based on the allotypic and isotypic analysis of the 7S Ig antigenic determinants, turkey 7S Ig was as closely related to chicken 7S Ig as was pheasant 7S Ig. Jungle fowl, the ancestor of chickens, had most of the chicken 7S Ig and IgM allotypes present as polymorphic markers.     

Genetic polymorphism of a serum euglobulin of chickens which binds to antigen-antibody complexes

Binding of a euglobulin from normal chicken serum to precipitating HSA anti-HSA complexes has been demonstrated. The binding appeared specific for the Fc-fragment of chicken antibody since it was not detected with rabbit Ag-Ab complexes. Two allelic allotypic markers of the euglobulin under genetic control from one locus (E-1) were found in chickens from two inbred strains.E-1 alleles segregated independently from those controlled by theB (major histocompatibility),M-1 andG-1 (Ig allotype) loci. Partially purifiedE-1 had a sedimentation coefficient of 15.6 S. and-globulin electrophoretic mobility.Part of this work was done while one of us (CHT) was on sabbatical leave from the Department of Biomedical and Environmental Health Services, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley 94720, while on a Senior International Fellowship granted through the Fogarty International Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland.     

Allelic exclusion of surface IgM allotypes on spleen and bursal B cells in the chicken

The expression of IgM-1a and IgM-1b (C) allotypes on the surface of splenic and bursal cells of B14 line chickens was examined by the triple-layer immunfluorescence technique. We have demonstrated that all surface Ig⁺ cells in both spleen and bursa expressed sIgM-1 which was subject to allelic exclusion in M-l^a/M-l^b heterozygous chickens. Furthermore, a phenotypic equilibrium in the proportion of cells carrying the products of the twoM-1 alleles was observed.Abbreviations used in this paper Ig immunoglobulin - cIg cytoplasmic immunoglobulin - sIg surface immunoglobulin - RAC rabbit anti-chicken Ig serum - PBS phosphate buffered saline - NCS normal chicken serum     

Structural and genetic studies on chicken 7S immunoglobulin allotypes. III. Proposed nomenclature for the CS-1 gene alleles.

A survey of 47 inbred or partially inbred chicken lines derived from five sources in the United States and Europe revealed considerable genetic polymorphism in the structural gene (CS-1) responsible for the production of the predominant chicken 7S Ig heavy chain. A minimum of 10 alleles of the CS-1 gene were detected as unique combinations or phenogroups of CS-1 specificities. A system of nomenclature for CS-1 alleles was developed and six homozygous lines were designated as prototype lines. The remaining four CS-1 alleles occurred only in lines that were polymorphic for 7S Ig allotypic specificities.     

Single locus typing of MHC class I and class II B loci in a population of red jungle fowl

In species with duplicated major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genes, estimates of genetic variation often rely on multilocus measures of diversity. It is possible that such measures might not always detect more detailed patterns of selection at individual loci. Here, we describe a method that allows us to investigate classical MHC diversity in red jungle fowl (Gallus gallus), the wild ancestor of the domestic chicken, using a single locus approach. This is possible due to the well-characterised gene organisation of the ‘minimal essential’ MHC (BF/BL region) of the domestic chicken, which comprises two differentially expressed duplicated class I (BF) and two class II B (BLB) genes. Using a combination of reference strand-mediated conformation analysis, cloning and sequencing, we identify nine BF and ten BLB alleles in a captive population of jungle fowl. We show that six BF and five BLB alleles are from the more highly expressed locus of each gene, BF2 and BLB2, respectively. An excess of non-synonymous substitutions across the jungle fowl BF/BL region suggests that diversifying selection has acted on this population. Importantly, single locus screening reveals that the strength of selection is greatest on the highly expressed BF2 locus. This is the first time that a population of red jungle fowl has been typed at the MHC region, laying the basis for further research into the underlying processes acting to maintain MHC diversity in this and other species.     

Immunoglobulin isoantigens (allotypes) in the mouse

Murine antisera raised against allogeneic lymphoid cells often contain antibodies to IgM allotypes. Rarely, allotypic antibodies to IgM have been found after immunization withB. pertussis anti-B. pertussis conjugates. Using both types of antibodies, we have defined a new constant-region locus for both secreted and membrane-bound chains. This locus,Ig-6, is closely linked to the previously described H-chain constant-region loci (Ig-1 throughIg-5) and is subject to allelic exclusion. We have identified three alleles and four antigenic specificities ofIg-6.Authors listed alphabetically     

IgM allotypes in rabbit

Six new IgM allotypes-Msl6, Msl7, Ms21, Ms23, Ms24, and Ms25-have been detected. Genetics of these markers has been studied by radioimmunoassay, since immunodiffusion in gel was not sensitive enough to detect low concentrations of IgM in the serum. All the six markers are closely linked to thea locus; Ms 16 and Ms 17 behave as alleles and can be found associated with any of the three majora locus markers. In contrast to these findings, the other four allotypes are always associated with haplotypes carrying a particular a-locus marker associated with a particular chain allotype (Ms 16 or Ms 17).     

Structural and genetic studies on chicken 7S immunoglobulin allotypes. II. Distribution of allotypes on the 7S immunoglobulin of homozygous and heterozygous chickens.

We have previously reported that chicken 7S immunoglobulin (Ig) heavy (H) chain allotypes (CS-1 locus) segregate as phenogroups in F2 progeny. Specificity CS-1.1 formed a phenogroup with CS-1.4 in inbred chicken line UCD 2, and a second phenogroup with CS-1.3 in line UCD 3. To determine whether these phenogroups were formed by combinations of specificities on the same, or on separate subclasses of 7S Ig, their distribution on the 7S Ig molecules of birds homozygous for 7S Ig allotypes was analyzed by radioimmunoassay. Anti-CS-1.1 and anti-CS-1.3 alloantisera each bound more than 94% of line UCD 3 1252-7S Ig. Similar results were obtained with alloantisera to CS-1.1 and CS-1.4 WITH 125 I-7S Ig from line UCD 2. These results indicate that both phenogroups were formed by combinations of specificities present on the same H chain. Thus, each phenogroup described, probably is the product of a single structural gene which is responsible for more than 94% of the 7S Ig H chain constant regions. In F hybrids with the genotype CS-1.3, 1.3/CS-1.2, two populations of serum 7S Ig molecules were detected by direct and sequential binding analysis with specific alloantisera. One population of 7S Ig contained specificities CS-1.1 AND CS-1.3, but not CS-1.2; while the second population was exclusively the product of one parental allele. Consistent with a genetic regulatory mechanism involving allelic exclusion, no MS Ig containing allotypes produced by both alleles was detected.     

Phylogenetic distribution of the novel avian endogenous provirus family EAV-0

A new family of related endogenous proviruses, existing at 50 to 100 copies per haploid genome and distinguishable by remarkably short long terminal repeats, has been described for domestic chickens (Gallus gallus subsp domesticus). In this communication, by using Southern blot analysis and probes derived from both internal viral sequences and locus-specific, cellular flanking sequences, we studied the genetic distribution of this family of moderately repetitive avian endogenous retroviruses within the genomes of four Gallus species. Eight inbred lines of domestic chickens, the evolutionary progenitor to the domestic chicken (red jungle fowl), and two more distantly related species (grey and green jungle fowl) were studied. All Gallus species harbored this class of elements, although the different lines of domestic chickens and different species of jungle fowl bore distinguishable complements of the proviral loci. Jungle fowl appeared to have fewer copies than domestic chickens. For three randomly isolated proviral loci, domestic chickens (G. gallus subsp. domesticus) and red jungle fowl (G. gallus subsp. gallus) showed only a proviral state, whereas the most primitive and divergent of the jungle fowl, the green jungle fowl (G. varius), consistently demonstrated only preintegration states or disparate alleles. The presence of this family in all Gallus species and of related sequences in other genera suggests that a primordial founding integration event occurred prior to the evolutionary separation of Gallus species and possibly related genera. Additionally, at least one proviral locus has been acquired subsequent to speciation, indicating that this family was actively infectious after the primary founding event. This conserved, repetitive proviral family appears to represent the vestigial remnant of an avian retrovirus class related to and evolutionarily more ancient than the Rous-associated virus-0 family of avian endogenous retroviruses.     

Structural and genetic analysis of four chicken 7S immunoglobulin allotypes

Four 7S immunoglobulin allotypic specificities in three inbred chicken lines were demonstrated in two immunoglobulin regions, probably associated with the heavy chains. Two specificities were associated with papain-produced Fab fragments, most likely the Fd fragment since they were not demonstrated on the 17S immunoglobulin. The other allotypes were detected only on intact 7S immunoglobulin and were undetectable on the Fab and Fc fragments; therefore, they probably were associated with a region of the heavy chain sensitive to papain digestion. Among F₂ hybrids, these specificities segregated in a manner statistically indistinguishable from that expected of three codominant alleles at an autosomal locus. This locus was not closely associated with any of five chicken blood group loci.     

Segregation of allotypes in a strain of chickens homozygous for theB locus

Sublines homozygous for alleles controlling IgM and IgG allotypes at two linked loci (M1 andG1) were established in the B14 strain of chickens, which is homozygous for theB locus controlling major histocompatibility antigens. Transfer of lymphoid cells resulted in a permanent donor-type IgG synthesis in irradiated 12-day-old recipients, but was followed by protracted rejection in chickens injected embryonally.     

The mouse C1q genes are clustered on chromosome 4 and show conservation of gene organization

Mouse complement component C1q is a serum glycoprotein which consists of six A chains, six B chains and six C chains. The three polypeptides are 223, 228, and 217 residues long, respectively, and are encoded by three genes. DNA probes for mouse C1q A, B, and C chains were hybridized to Southern blots of DNA obtained from various inbred mouse strains. On the basis of fragment length polymorphisms, two different alleles of each of the genes could be identified. The distribution of these alleles was determined in the BXD and LXPL recombinant inbred strain series. Comparison with previously reported strain distribution patterns shows that the genes encoding mouseClq map to the same locus on distal chromosome 4. Overlapping clones spanning the entire gene cluster ofClq were isolated from genomic libraries using specific cDNA probes. The three genesClqA, ClqB, andClqC are closely arranged on a 19 kilobase stretch of DNA in the 5 to 3 orientation A-C-B. Each gene consists of two exons separated by one intron. Sequence comparison of Clq from three different species have shown that the B chains have the strongest similarity. Southern blot analysis of chromosomal DNA from 14 vertebrate species demonstrated highest similarity between theClqB genes, followed byClqC and finallyClqA.The nucleotide sequence data reported in this paper have been submitted to the EMBL, GenBank, and DDBJ nucleotide sequence databases and have been assigned the accession numbers X92958 (ClqA), X92959 (ClqB), and X92960 (ClqC)     

Tests of association of immunoglobulin allotype genes and viral oncogenesis in chickens

Chickens from Regional Poultry Research Laboratory (RPRL) inbred line 6₃ are resistant to virally-induced Marek's disease (MD) and lymphoid leukosis (LL) and are relatively strong regressors of virally-induced Rous sarcomas. In contrast, RPRL line 100 chickens are highly susceptible to MD and LL and are weaker regressors of Rous sarcomas than line 6₃. RPRL lines 100 and 6₃ differ for alleles at the IgG-1 (G-1) allotype locus, but have identical IgM-1 (M-1) allotype alleles. To test the possible association of the G-1 locus with variations in resistance to virally-induced tumors, homozygous and heterozygous genotypes among F₃ crosses were infected. F₃ chickens with different G-1 types were comparable in their resistance to MD tumors following inoculation with the JM strain of the MD virus, and for their ability to regress Rous sarcoma tumors induced by the Rous sarcoma virus (RSV) RAV-1. However, following RAV-1 virus infection a smaller proportion of G-1 ^a /G-1 ^a F₃ or F₄ birds developed LL tumors than G-1 ^a /G-1 ^e and G-1 ^e /G-1 ^e birds. Genes determining immunoglobulin heavy chains were therefore associated with a recessive resistance to B-cell lymphomagenesis in chickens.Deceased     

Analysis of genetic diversity and phylogenetic relationships among red jungle fowls and Chinese domestic fowls

Genetic diversity and phylogenetic relationships among 568 individuals of two red jungle fowl subspe- cies (Gallus gallus spadiceus in China and Gallus gallus gallus in Thailand) and 14 Chinese domestic chicken breeds were evaluated with 29 microstaellite loci, the genetic variability within population and genetic differentiation among population were estimated, and then genetic diversity and phylogenetic relationships were analyzed among red jungle fowls and Chinese domestic fowls. A total of 286 alleles were detected in 16 population with 29 microsatellite markers and the average number of the alleles observed in 29 microsatellite loci was 9.86±6.36. The overall expected heterozygosity of all population was 0.6708±0.0251, and the number of population deviated from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium per locus ranged from 0 to 7. In the whole population, the average of genetic differentiation among population, measured as FST value, was 16.7% (P<0.001), and all loci contributed significantly (P<0.001) to this differentiation. It can also be seen that the deficit of heterozygotes was very high (0.015) (P<0.01). Reynolds' distance values varied between 0.036 (Xiaoshan chicken-Luyuan chicken pair) and 0.330 (G. gallus gallus-Gushi chicken pair). The Nm value ranged from 0.533 (between G. gallus gallus and Gushi chicken) to 5.833 (between Xiaoshan chicken and Luyuan chicken). An unrooted consensus tree was constructed using the neighbour-joining method and the Reynolds' genetic distance. The heavy-body sized chicken breeds, Luyuan chicken, Xiaoshan chicken, Beijing Fatty chicken, Henan Game chicken, Huainan Partridge and Langshan chicken formed one branch, and it had a close genetic relationship between Xiaoshan chicken-Luyuan chicken pair and Chahua chicken-Tibetan chicken pair. Chahua chicken and Tibetan chicken had closer genetic relationship with these two subspecies of red jungle fowl than other domestic chicken breeds. G. gallus spadiceus showed closer phylogenetic relationship with Chinese domestic chicken breeds than G. gallus gallus. All 29 microstaellite loci in this study showed high levels of polymorphism and significant genetic differentiation was observed among two subspecies of red jungle fowl and 14 Chinese domestic chicken breeds. The evolutional dendrogram is as follows: evolutional breeds→primitive breeds (Chahua chicken and Tibetan)→red jungle fowl in China (G. gallus spadiceus)→red jungle fowl in Thailand (G. gallus gallus). The results supported the theory that the domestic fowls might originate from different subspecies of red jungle fowl and Chinese domestic fowls had independent origin.     

Structural and genetic studies on chicken 7S immunoglobulin allotypes. IV. The presence of an unexpected chicken immunoglobulin heavy chain allotype: subclass or pseudoallele?

Low concentrations of allotypic specificity CS-1.1 were detected in the sera of two inbred chicken lines [University of California, Davis (UCD) 7 and Regional Poultry Research Laboratory 15I4] previously reported to lack this specificity. The CS-1.1 alloantigen in 15I4 chickens has the same specificity as the major allotype in a line of chickens (UCD 2) in which it was initially defined. In 15I4 chickens, CS-1.1 allotype is present on a population of molecules distinct from those which carry the major allotype; thus a second 7S Ig H chain locus, CS-2, is proposed. The concentration of CS-1.1-bearing molecules determined by two different methods was 7 microgram/ml and 230 microgram/ml in 15I4, whereas UCD 2 chickens had 4 mg/ml of CS-1.1 molecules. The levels of CS-1.1 inhibitory activity in 15I4 birds remained relatively constant over a 30-day period. The presence of two 7S Ig populations in 15I4 chickens may be interpreted as evidence either for 7S Ig subclasses with shared allotypes or for a pseudoallelic organization of genes controlling expression of 7S Ig H chains. The results were consistent with the presence of redundant C region genes, differing in allotypes, whose expression is under the control of an as yet undefined regulatory mechanism.     

The histocompatibility-2 system in wild mice

The I-region gene products of 29 wild-derivedH-2 haplotypes on a B10 background (B10.W congenic lines) were typed with alloantisera which detect 17 inbred I-region antigens. Five new I-region antigens were defined by expanding the inbred line panel ofH-2 haplotypes to includeH-2 ^u , H-2^v, andH-2 ^j . Based on serological analyses of the inbred and B10.W lines, the polymorphism of theIA gene (or genes) is estimated to be at a minimum of 15 alleles and theIE gene (or genes) at a minimum of 4 alleles. These results indicate that theIA subregion is more polymorphic than theIE subregion. By combining the I-region typing data with theH-2K andH-2D region typing data reported previously, a total of 11 new natural recombinants of inbredH-2 alleles were detected among the B10.W lines.     

Mapping chicken genes using preferential amplification of specific alleles

To map the chicken genome, an international reference population was developed at our laboratory (East Lansing, MI) using an F2 backcross between inbred jungle fowl (JF) and inbred white leghorns (WL). To augment the number of type I genes on the East Lansing (E) map, segregation of the JF-specific allele was followed using preferential amplification of specific alleles (PASA) in polymerase chain reactions (PCR). Among 15 functional genes that were added to the E map, agrin and mannose-6-phosphate receptor genes were found to occur in conserved syntenic groups. Using this PCR-based approach, six conserved groups spanning more than 243 centimorgans (cM) in the chicken were syntenic with human and mouse.     

Structural and evolutionary comparisons of four alleles of the mouse immunoglobulin kappa chain gene,Igk-VSer

The mouseIgK-VSer gene encodes an immunoglobulin light chain variable region which gives rise to two phenotypic polymorphisms of mouse chains. The nucleotide sequences of coding and flanking regions of theIgk-VSer ^c andIgk-VSer ^d alleles found in recently inbred strains of wild mice are compared with those of theIgk-VSer ^a andIgk-VSer ^b alleles described previously. Results suggest that the gene is evolving randomly and that framework 2 and complentarity determining region 2 are preserved, presumably for overall light chain structure. Results indicate that all four allels have an octamer motif upstream of the gene which should be functional and allow prediction of whether or not the product of the germ line gene will be detectable as either the I_B-peptide or Ef1^a phenotypic polymorphism. Southern hybridization of genomic DNA using as probe a 1-kbXba I-Xba I fragment located approximately 4 kb upstream of the BALB/cIgk-VSer ^b coding region demonstrated the presence of homologous DNA in mice bearing theIgk-VSer ^a allele and absence from mice bearing theIgk-VSer ^c andIgk-VSer ^d alleles. Nucleotide sequence comparison of BALB/c and SK/CamRk (Igk-VSer ^d ) DNA in this region demonstrated that BALB/c contained an insertion 2.4 kb in length which was absent from SK/CamRk. Both strains contain DNA homologous to the reverse complement of the mouse Bam5 repetitive element at the point of the insertion, with BALB/c containing approximately 70 nucleotides more of the element than SK/CamRk. Surprisingly, the strains containing DNA related to theXba I-Xba I probe are not those determined to be the most similar by nucleotide sequence comparisons and by the Phylogenetic Analysis Using Parsimony program. The evolutionary relationship of the alleles and a possible basis for the inconsistency presented by theXba I-Xba I fragment-related DNA are discussed.     

Serum antigens of cattle

We have produced an alloimmune serum that detects a new cattle immunoglobulin light chain allotype. Genetic analysis involving more than 600 offspring showed that this allotype is controlled by an autosomal codominant allele [Ig(L)b ²], of theIg(L)b ¹ gene previously reported from this laboratory. This system also contains a recessive allele for which no product can now be detected. The frequencies of the three alleles in 5 dairy breeds are reported. The Ig(L)B1 and Ig(L)B2 allotypes are expressed as complexes of 2 or 3 precipitin bands in double diffusion gels containing polyethylene glycol-6000. The complexes are transmitted as genetic units.