MBE Advance Access published online on April 2, 2003
Molecular Biology and Evolution, doi:10.1093/molbev/msg064
Molecular Biology and Evolution © Society for Molecular Biology and Evolution 2003; all rights reserved
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1 Institute of Molecular Evolutionary Genetics and Department of Biology, 328 Mueller Laboratory, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802
* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: oxp108{at}psu.edu.
The MHC is a multigene family that mediates the host immune response by helping T lymphocytes to recognize and respond to foreign antigens. The high degree of polymorphism and a quick turnover of the genetic loci make the evolution of MHC genes an intriguing subject of study. To understand the evolutionary pattern of this multigene family, we studied the phylogeny and divergence times of six functional MHC class I loci from primate species. On the phylogenetic trees locus F occupies the most basal position among these loci. Our results suggest that the F locus has diverged from the other MHC class I loci at about 46-66 Ma. The major diversification of the other class I loci was estimated to have occurred at about 35-49 Ma, which is before the time of separation of Old World-New World monkeys. The gene duplication leading to the classical C locus in great apes appears to have occurred about 21-28 Ma. Approximately at the same time the duplication of the B locus occurred in macaques. The oldest allelic lineages of A, B and C loci in humans seem to have appeared at least 14-19, 10-15 and 13-17 Ma, respectively. Our phylogenetic analysis supports the hypothesis (Shiina et al. 1999) that the nonclassical locus F has diverged from the rest of class I loci very early in primate evolution. The overall phylogenetic pattern observed among class I genes is consistent with the model of birth-and-death evolution. Key Words:
MHC, class I, divergence time, birth-and-death evolution, primates
© 2003 Society for Molecular Biology and Evolution
Original Articles
Birth-and-Death Evolution in Primate MHC Class I Genes: Divergence Time Estimates
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