Evolutionary history of MHC class I genes in the mammalian order Perissodactyla
Journal of Molecular Evolution
1999
Journal Article
49
3
316-324
0022-2844
major histocompatibility complex perissodactyls rhinoceros phylogeny polymorphism major histocompatibility complex antigen presentation genus equus polymorphism molecules selection loci horse overdominant sequences Tapir Bibliography
We carried out an analysis of partial sequences from expressed major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I genes isolated from a range of equid species and more distantly related members of the mammalian order Perissodactyla. Phylogenetic analysis revealed a minimum of six groups, five of which contained genes and alleles that are found in equid species and one group specific to the rhinoceros. Four of the groups contained only one, or very few sequences, indicating the presence of relatively nonpolymorphic loci, while another group contained the majority of the equid sequences identified. These data suggest that a diversification of MHC genes took place after the split between the Equidae and the Rhinocerotidae yet before the speciation events within the genus Equus.