Recombination and the origin of sequence diversity in the DRB MHC class II locus in chamois (Rupicapra spp.) |
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Authors: | Helmut Schaschl Franz Suchentrunk Sabine Hammer Simon J Goodman |
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Institution: | (1) Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent s Park, London, NW1 4RY, UK;(2) Research Institute of Wildlife Ecology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Savoyenstrasse 1, 1160 Vienna, Austria;(3) Laboratories of Genome Dynamics, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringerstrasse 10, 1090 Vienna, Austria;(4) Present address: Department of Biology, University of Leeds, L. C. Miall Building, Clarendon Way, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK;(5) Present address: Department of Evolutionary Ecology, Max-Planck-Institute of Limnology, August-Thienemann-Str. 2, 24306 Ploen, Germany |
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Abstract: | We examined the evolutionary processes contributing to genetic diversity at the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II DRB locus in chamois (Rupicapra spp., subfamily Caprinae). We characterised the pattern of intragenic recombination (or homologous gene conversion) and quantified the amount of recombination in the genealogical history of the two chamois species, Pyrenean chamois (Rupicapra pyrenaica) and Alpine chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra). We found evidence for intragenic recombination, and the estimated amount of population recombination suggests that recombination has been a significant process in generating DRB allelic diversity in the genealogical history of the genus Rupicapra. Moreover, positive selection appears to act on the same peptide-binding residues in both analysed chamois species, but not in identical intensity. Recombination coupled with positive selection drives the rapid evolution at the peptide-binding sites in the MHC class II DRB gene. Many chamois MHC class II DRB alleles are thus much younger than previously assumed. |
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Keywords: | MHC class II diversity Chamois Recombination Allelic polymorphism |
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