Characterisation of major histocompatibility complex class I genes in Japanese Ranidae frogs.

ABSTRACT: The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) is a key component of adaptive immunity in all jawed vertebrates, and understanding the evolutionary mechanisms that have shaped these genes in amphibians, one of the earliest terrestrial tetrapods, is important. We characterised MHC class I variation in three common Japanese Rana species (Rana japonica, Rana ornativentris and Rana tagoi tagoi) and identified a total of 60 variants from 21 individuals. We also found evolutionary signatures of gene duplication, recombination and balancing selection (including trans-species polymorphism), all of which drive increased MHC diversity. A unique feature of MHC class I from these three Ranidae species includes low synonymous differences per site (d _S) within species, which we attribute to a mor

SUBMITTER: Lau Q 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5056945 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature