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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
biochemistry, genetics and molecular biology
Major histocompatibility complex variation and evolution at a single, expressed DQA locus in two genera of elephants
Immunogenetics, Volume 62, No. 2, Year 2010
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Description
Genes of the vertebrate major histocompatibility complex (MHC) are crucial to defense against infectious disease, provide an important measure of functional genetic diversity, and have been implicated in mate choice and kin recognition. As a result, MHC loci have been characterized for a number of vertebrate species, especially mammals; however, elephants are a notable exception. Our study is the first to characterize patterns of genetic diversity and natural selection in the elephant MHC. We did so using DNA sequences from a single, expressed DQA locus in elephants. We characterized six alleles in 30 African elephants (Loxodonta africana) and four alleles in three Asian elephants (Elephas maximus). In addition, for two of the African alleles and three of the Asian alleles, we characterized complete coding sequences (exons 1-5) and nearly complete non-coding sequences (introns 2-4) for the class II DQA loci. Compared to DQA in other wild mammals, we found moderate polymorphism and allelic diversity and similar patterns of selection; patterns of non-synonymous and synonymous substitutions were consistent with balancing selection acting on the peptides involved in antigen binding in the second exon. In addition, balancing selection has led to strong trans-species allelism that has maintained multiple allelic lineages across both genera of extant elephants for at least 6 million years. We discuss our results in the context of MHC diversity in other mammals and patterns of evolution in elephants. © Springer-Verlag 2009.
Authors & Co-Authors
Archie, Elizabeth A.
United States, Washington, D.c.
National Zoological Park
United States, Notre Dame
University of Notre Dame
Henry, Tammy R.
United States, Washington, D.c.
National Zoological Park
United States, Fairfax
George Mason University
Maldonado, Jesus E.
United States, Washington, D.c.
National Zoological Park
Moss, Cynthia J.
Kenya, Nairobi
Amboseli Trust for Elephants
Poole, Joyce H.P.
Kenya, Nairobi
Amboseli Trust for Elephants
Pearson, Virginia R.
United States, Philadelphia
Philadelphia Zoo
Murray, Suzan Z.
United States, Washington, D.c.
National Zoological Park
Alberts, Susan C.
United States, Durham
Duke University
Fleischer, Robert C.
United States, Washington, D.c.
National Zoological Park
Statistics
Citations: 24
Authors: 9
Affiliations: 6
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1007/s00251-009-0413-8
ISSN:
00937711
e-ISSN:
14321211
Research Areas
Genetics And Genomics