Long-Read Genome Assemblies Reveal Extraordinary Variation in the Number and Structure of MHC Loci in Birds.

ABSTRACT: Our knowledge of the Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) in birds is limited because it often consists of numerous duplicated genes within individuals that are difficult to assemble with short read sequencing technology. Long-read sequencing provides an opportunity to overcome this limitation because it allows the assembly of long regions with repetitive elements. In this study, we used genomes based on long-read sequencing to predict the number and location of MHC loci in a broad range of bird taxa. From the long-read-based genomes of 34 species, we found that there was extremely large variation in the number of MHC loci between species. Overall, there were greater numbers of both class I and II loci in passerines than nonpasserines. The highest numbers of loci (up to 193 class II loci

SUBMITTER: He K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7875000 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature