title: Mhc class II DNA polymorphisms within and between chromosomal species of the Spalax ehrenbergi superspecies in Israel.
abstract: Restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) of two major histocompatibility class II genes (P alpha 1 and Q beta) were studied in 13 populations of four chromosomal species (2n = 52, 54, 58 and 60) of the mole rat, Spalax ehrenbergi superspecies in Israel. A substantial frequency of allelic fragments was found in both genes for all populations, including a desert isolate. In the P alpha 1 gene, one allelic fragment is a result of a deletion mutation which is diagnostic of the 2n = 52 chromosomal species. All other ten allelic variants are the result of point mutations. All mutations are located in a short region flanking the 3' end of the gene. Based on Mhc polymorphisms we confirm earlier evidence that gene flow does not occur between the older chromosomal species (2n = 52, 54, 58), and that reproductive isolation decreases, progressively from the oldest to the youngest species (2n = 60).
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics*; D006239:Haplotypes; D007557:Israel; D008285:Major Histocompatibility Complex; D005810:Multigene Family; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D012377:Rodentia / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D004247:DNA