Evolution of HLA-F and its orthologues in primate species: a complex tale of conservation, diversification and inactivation.

ABSTRACT: HLA-F represents one of the nonclassical MHC class I molecules in humans. Its main characteristics involve low levels of polymorphism in combination with a restricted tissue distribution. This signals that the gene product executes a specialised function, which, however, is still poorly understood. Relatively little is known about the evolutionary equivalents of this gene in nonhuman primates, especially with regard to population data. Here we report a comparative genetic analysis of the orthologous genes of HLA-F in various great ape, Old World monkey (OWM), and New World monkey (NWM) species. HLA-F-related transcripts were found in all subjects studied. Low levels of polymorphism were encountered, although the length of the predicted gene products may vary. In most species, one or two tr

SUBMITTER: Otting N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7725694 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature