High levels of genetic variation at MHC class II DBB loci in the tammar wallaby (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Macropus eugenii</Emphasis>) |
| |
Authors: | Yuanyuan Cheng Hannah V Siddle Stephan Beck Mark D B Eldridge Katherine Belov |
| |
Institution: | (1) Faculty of Veterinary Science, RMC Gunn B19, The University of Sydney, Sydney, 2006, Australia;(2) UCL Cancer Institute, University College London, London, WC1E 6BT, UK;(3) Australian Museum, 6 College St, Sydney, NSW, 2010, Australia |
| |
Abstract: | High levels of MHC diversity are crucial for immunological fitness of populations, with island populations particularly susceptible
to loss of genetic diversity. In this study, the level of MHC class II DBB diversity was examined in tammar wallabies (Macropus eugenii) from Kangaroo Island by genotyping class II-linked microsatellite loci and sequencing of DBB genes. Here we show that the
tammar wallaby has at least four expressed MHC class II DBB loci and extensive genetic variation in the peptide-binding region
of the DBB genes. These results contradict early studies which suggested that wallabies lacked MHC class II diversity and
demonstrate that, in spite of the long-term isolation on an offshore island, this population of wallabies has a high level
of DBB diversity. |
| |
Keywords: | Marsupial MHC Class II Tammar wallaby MHC-linked microsatellite Genetic variation |
本文献已被 SpringerLink 等数据库收录! |
|