100 million years of multigene family evolution: origin and evolution of the avian MHC class IIB.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Gene duplication has led to a most remarkable adaptation involved in vertebrates' host-pathogen arms-race, the major histocompatibility complex (MHC). However, MHC duplication history is as yet poorly understood in non-mammalian vertebrates, including birds.

Results

Here, we provide evidence for the evolution of two ancient avian MHC class IIB (MHCIIB) lineages by a duplication event prior to the radiation of all extant birds >100 million years ago, and document the role of concerted evolution in eroding the footprints of the avian MHCIIB duplication history.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that eroded footprints of gene duplication histories may mimic birth-death evolution and that in the avian MHC the presence of the two lineages may have been masked by e

SUBMITTER: Goebel J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5470263 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature