Major histocompatibility complex class I genes of Peromyscus leucopus

Abstract

Class I genes of the Peromyscus leucopus major histocompatibility complex (MhcPele) were examined by Southern blot hybridization, genomic cloning, and DNA sequencing. At least three distinct subtypes of Pele class I genes were discerned, which we have designated Pele-A, B, and C. The nucleotide sequences of exon 5-containing regions (encoding the transmembrane domain) suggested that Pele-A genes are homologs of mouse H-2K, D, L, and Q genes and that Pele-B genes correspond to mouse Tla genes. The Pele-C genes appeared similar to mouse M1 genes. The number of unique genes in each subtype cloned from an individual P. leucopus were 20 for Pele-A, 13 for Pele-B, and 2 for Pele-C. Three genomic clones showed cross-hybridization to both Pele-A and Pele-B gene-specific probes. Six genomic clones remained unclassified as they did not cross-hybridize to exon 5-containing probes from Pele-A, B, or C genes. The homology between the transmembrane domains of Pele class I gene subtypes was found to be similar to that observed between the transmembrane domains of H-2 subtypes (or groups). Interspecific similarity of exon 5 was found to be 81%-88% between Pele class I genes and their H-2 counterparts.

Transmembrane domain length variation in the evolution of major histocompatibility complex class I genes.

“…The myomorph rodent Peromyscus leucopus (family Cricetidae) provides an ideal model from which to view the evolution of MHC gene diversity since it is quite divergent from Rattus and Mus (family Muridae) but contains an MHC (MhcPele) with loci clearly homologous to the major H-2 class I and II gene subtypes (16,17). To understand the evolution of MHC class I loci, we have initially focused upon the transmembrane domain (TM)-encoding exon (exon 5).…”

Organization and structure of the H-2M4-M8 class I genes in the mouse major histocompatibility complex

“…6). Homologs of M1, M2, and 344 can be found in Peromyscus leucopus (Crew et al 1990; C.-R. Wang et al, in preparation) and homologs of 341, M2, M3, and M4 can be identified in rats Wang et al 1991 a). Homologs of M1, M2, and 344 can be found in Peromyscus leucopus (Crew et al 1990; C.-R. Wang et al, in preparation) and homologs of 341, M2, M3, and M4 can be identified in rats Wang et al 1991 a).…”

Genes of the major histocompatibility complex and the evolutionary genetics of lifespan

“…Orthologous HLA and H-2 class II loci are more apparent because these genes, unlike class I genes, probably evolved through direct descent (Lundberg & McDevitt, 1992). As with haplotypic variation, there are large differences between species in the number of class I antigen-encoding loci ranging from fifty to sixty in Peromyscus leucopus and Rattus (Crew et al, 1990;Jameson et al, 1990) to seven in minature swine . The proposition here is that MHC class I gene diversity between species mirrors the profound interspecific diversity of life history patterns.…”