Ancient duplication, coevolution, and selection at the MHC class IIA and IIB genes of birds.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

The Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) of vertebrates is a dynamically evolving multigene family primarily responsible for recognizing non-self peptide antigens and triggering a pathogen-specific adaptive immune response. In birds, the MHC was previously thought to evolve via concerted evolution with high degree of gene homogenization and the rapid loss of orthology. However, the discovery of two ancient avian MHC-IIB gene lineages (DAB1 and DAB2) originating before the radiation of extant birds indicated that despite the action of concerted evolution, orthology may be detectable for long evolutionary periods.

Methods

Here, we take advantage of rapidly accumulating digital genomic resources to search for the signal of an ancient duplication at the avian MHC-

SUBMITTER: Minias P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10641522 | biostudies-literature | 2023

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature