Biology Faculty Articles

Title

Molecular Genetic Diversity and Evolution at the MHC DQB Locus in Four Species of Pinnipeds

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

5-1999

Publication Title

Molecular Biology and Evolution

Keywords

Class II MHC, DQB, Pinnipeds, Molecular evolution

ISSN

0737-4038

Volume

16

Issue/No.

5

First Page

611

Last Page

618

Abstract

Variation was investigated at exon 2 (including part of the putative peptide-binding region) of the class II major histocompatibility complex (MHC) DQB locus for two congeneric phocid seal species and two congeneric otariid seal species. Polymorphism in one phocid species, the southern elephant seal (Mirounga leonina), was comparable to that seen in human populations, while the other phocid, the northern elephant seal (Mirounga angustirostris), has been through a severe population bottleneck and exhibited much less variation at this locus. A phylogenetic comparison of the four species was consistent with the trans-specific pattern of evolution described for other taxa at this locus, and relative nonsynonymous and synonymous substitution rates suggest the maintenance of polymorphisms by natural selection. A comparison of sequence patterns also suggested that some variation could have been generated through recombinational events, primarily within genera. These results suggest a pattern of evolution of the immune response in pinnipeds similar to that in terrestrial mammal species.

Comments

©1999 by the Society for Molecular Biology and Evolution

ORCID ID

0000-0001-7353-8301

ResearcherID

N-1726-2015

Link to Full Text
Peer Reviewed

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