Molecular Biology and Evolution, Vol 13, 1119-1127, Copyright © 1996 by Society for Molecular Biology and Evolution
BA Houlden, WD Greville and WB Sherwin
We demonstrate that koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) MHC class I constitutes
a variable multigene family. A total of nine partial exon 2 and 3 major
histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I sequences are presented, including
six sequences from at least three loci from one koala. Variation was
detected by examination of sequences from a number of individuals and
family groups. The koala is the second marsupial species characterized to
date, and comparisons reveal approximately 80% similarity with sequences
from the red necked wallaby (Macropus rufogriseus). The latter sequences
represent at least two, and probably three, different loci. Phylogenetic
analysis demonstrates that all koala sequences are more related to one
another than they are to any of the wallaby loci. This indicates that the
koala sequences are probably not orthologous to the wallaby genes, and thus
represent a new class I gene family. In addition, marsupial gene families
cluster away from human gene families, supporting a different origin of MHC
genes for marsupials and eutherians.
ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Evolution of MHC class I loci in marsupials: characterization of sequences from koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) [published erratum appears in Mol Biol Evol 1996 Dec;13(10):1407]
School of Biological Science, University of NSW, Australia. b.houlden@unsw.edu.au
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