Molecular Biology and Evolution, Vol 14, 1035-1041, Copyright © 1997 by Society for Molecular Biology and Evolution
M Yeager, S Kumar and AL Hughes
In addition to the universally expressed and highly polymorphic class Ia
genes, the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) of placental mammals
includes class Ib genes that are characterized by restricted expression and
low levels of sequence polymorphism. The functional importance of class Ib
genes as well as their actual function has long been controversial.
Phylogenetic analyses have suggested that there are no orthologous
relationships among class Ib loci of mammals belonging to different orders,
suggesting that these loci have evolved independently since the placental
mammals diverged. Here, we present evidence of convergent evolution at the
molecular sequence level in the putative peptide-binding regions (PBRs) of
human and mouse class Ib genes. So far, there are few if any convincing
examples of convergent evolution at the amino acid sequence level, and such
evolution is believed to be likely to occur only as a result of strong
positive selection. Because the present case involves the functionally
important PBR and because the primate and rodent molecules are known to
bind similar peptides, this study represents both a convincing case of
molecular-level convergence and evidence that MHC class Ib molecules,
although not orthologous, may evolve similar functions convergently.
ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Sequence convergence in the peptide-binding region of primate and rodent MHC class Ib molecules
Department of Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park 16802, USA.
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