title: Evolution of the MHC class I genes of a New World primate from ancestral homologues of human non-classical genes.
abstract: The products of the classical human major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I genes (HLA-A, -B, -C) are highly polymorphic molecules that bind peptides and present them to T lymphocytes. The non-polymorphic, non-classical MHC class I gene products (HLA-E, -F, -G) are not restricting elements for the majority of T lymphocytes. The evolutionary relationship of the non-classical and classical MHC class I genes is unclear. Here we present the cloning and sequencing of the MHC class I genes of a New World primate, the cotton-top tamarin (Saguinus oedipus). The expressed MHC class I genes of this species are more closely related to the human non-classical HLA-G gene than they are to genes of the human classical HLA-A, -B, and -C loci. These observations imply that classical and non-classical genes do not necessarily constitute mutually exclusive groups over evolutionary time.
authors.affiliation: Harvard Medical School, New England Regional Primate Research Center, Southborough, Massachusetts 01772.
authors.forename: D I
authors.initials: DI
authors.lastname: Watkins
authors.forename: Z W
authors.initials: ZW
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Hughes
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.forename: T F
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Tedder
authors.forename: N L
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Letvin
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D005075:Biological Evolution; D002143:Callitrichinae / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics; D005796:Genes; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000235:genetics; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008285:Major Histocompatibility Complex; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny
chemical_list: D006680:HLA Antigens; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; D004247:DNA