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Evolution of the immunoglobulin heavy chain variable region (Igh-V) locus in the genusMus

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Abstract

The evolution of the mouse immunoglobulin heavy chain variable region (Igh-V) locus was investigated by the comprehensive analysis of variable region (Vh) gene family content and restriction fragment polymorphism in the genusMus. The examination of naturalMus domesticus populations suggests an important role for recombination in the generation of the considerable restriction fragment polymorphism found at theIgh-V locus. Although the sizes of individualVh gene families vary widely both within and between differentMus species, evolutionary trends ofVh gene family copy number are revealed by the analysis of homologues of mouseVh gene families inRattus andPeromyscus. Processes of duplication, deletion, and sequence divergence all contribute to the evolution ofVh gene copy number. CertainVh gene families have expanded or contracted differently in the various muroid lineages examined. Collectively, these findings suggest that the evolution of individualVh family size is not driven by strong selective pressure but is relatively neutral, and that gene flow, rather than selection, serves to maintain the high level of restriction fragment polymorphism seen inM. domesticus.

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Abbreviations

Igh-V :

immunoglobulin heavy chain variable region locus

Vh :

immunoglobulin heavy chain variable region gene

V κ :

immunoglobulin light chain (kappa type) variable region gene

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  1. Medical Biology Institute, 11077 North Torrey Pines Road, 92037, La Jolla, CA, USA

    Adele Tutter & Roy Riblet

  2. Graduate Group of Immunology, University of Pennsylvania, 19104, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Adele Tutter

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  1. Adele Tutter
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Tutter, A., Riblet, R. Evolution of the immunoglobulin heavy chain variable region (Igh-V) locus in the genusMus . Immunogenetics 30, 315–329 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02425271

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