Genetic structure and contrasting selection pattern at two major histocompatibility complex genes in wild house mouse populations

0347205 - ÚBO 2012 RIV GB eng J - Journal Article
Čížková, Dagmar - Goüy de Bellocq, J. - Baird, S. J. E. - Piálek, Jaroslav - Bryja, Josef
Genetic structure and contrasting selection pattern at two major histocompatibility complex genes in wild house mouse populations.
Heredity. Roč. 106, č. 5 (2011), s. 727-740. ISSN 0018-067X. E-ISSN 1365-2540
R&D Projects: GA AV ČR IAA600930608; GA ČR GA206/08/0640
Institutional research plan: CEZ:AV0Z60930519
Keywords : MHC * house mouse * selection * population structure * trans-species polymorphism
Subject RIV: EB - Genetics ; Molecular Biology
Impact factor: 4.597, year: 2011

The mammalian major histocompatibility complex (MHC) is a tightly linked cluster of immune genes, and is often thought of as inherited as a unit. This has led to the hope that studying a single MHC gene will reveal patterns of evolution representative of the MHC as a whole. In this study we analyse a 1000-km transect of MHC variation in house mice to compare signals of selection and patterns of diversification at two closely linked MHC class II genes, H-2Aa and H-2Eb. We show that although they are 0.01cM apart, disparate evolutionary patterns were detected. H-2Aa shows higher allelic polymorphism, faster allelic turnover due to higher mutation rates, stronger positive selection at antigen-binding sites and higher population structuring than H-2Eb. H-2Eb alleles are maintained in the gene pool for longer, including over separation of the subspecies, some H-2Eb alleles are positively and others negatively selected and some of the alleles are not expressed.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0188034