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Recombination and the origin of sequence diversity in the DRB MHC class II locus in chamois (Rupicapra spp.)

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Abstract

We examined the evolutionary processes contributing to genetic diversity at the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II DRB locus in chamois (Rupicapra spp., subfamily Caprinae). We characterised the pattern of intragenic recombination (or homologous gene conversion) and quantified the amount of recombination in the genealogical history of the two chamois species, Pyrenean chamois (Rupicapra pyrenaica) and Alpine chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra). We found evidence for intragenic recombination, and the estimated amount of population recombination suggests that recombination has been a significant process in generating DRB allelic diversity in the genealogical history of the genus Rupicapra. Moreover, positive selection appears to act on the same peptide-binding residues in both analysed chamois species, but not in identical intensity. Recombination coupled with positive selection drives the rapid evolution at the peptide-binding sites in the MHC class II DRB gene. Many chamois MHC class II DRB alleles are thus much younger than previously assumed.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank TBH Reusch from the Max-Planck Institute of Limnology for helpful comments on a previous version of this manuscript and A Hasselmeyer for assistance in sequencing.

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Author notes

  1. Simon J. Goodman

    Present address: Department of Biology, University of Leeds, L. C. Miall Building, Clarendon Way, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK

  2. Helmut Schaschl

    Present address: Department of Evolutionary Ecology, Max-Planck-Institute of Limnology, August-Thienemann-Str. 2, 24306, Ploen, Germany

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent’s Park, London, NW1 4RY, UK

    Helmut Schaschl & Simon J. Goodman

  2. Research Institute of Wildlife Ecology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Savoyenstrasse 1, 1160, Vienna, Austria

    Franz Suchentrunk

  3. Laboratories of Genome Dynamics, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringerstrasse 10, 1090, Vienna, Austria

    Sabine Hammer

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  1. Helmut Schaschl
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Correspondence to Helmut Schaschl.

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Schaschl, H., Suchentrunk, F., Hammer, S. et al. Recombination and the origin of sequence diversity in the DRB MHC class II locus in chamois (Rupicapra spp.). Immunogenetics 57, 108–115 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00251-005-0784-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00251-005-0784-4

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