Contrasting evolutionary histories of MHC class I and class II loci in grouse--effects of selection and gene conversion.

ABSTRACT: Genes of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) encode receptor molecules that are responsible for recognition of intracellular and extracellular pathogens (class I and class II genes, respectively) in vertebrates. Given the different roles of class I and II MHC genes, one might expect the strength of selection to differ between these two classes. Different selective pressures may also promote different rates of gene conversion at each class. Despite these predictions, surprisingly few studies have looked at differences between class I and II genes in terms of both selection and gene conversion. Here, we investigated the molecular evolution of MHC class I and II genes in five closely related species of prairie grouse (Centrocercus and Tympanuchus) that possess one class I and two class

SUBMITTER: Minias P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4834388 | biostudies-literature | 2016 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature