Characterization of the ABO blood group genes in macaques: evidence for convergent evolution.
The ABO blood group system is known to act as a major transplantation barrier in primates. Different primate species share the presence of A and B antigens. The polymorphism of the macaque ABO blood group genes was analyzed by cloning and sequencing the exon 7 region. In the case of the rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta) and cynomolgus monkey (Macaca fascicularis) we were able to identify ABO blood group gene segments which cluster into two lineages, namely: *A/*O1 and *B. In addition allelic variation was observed. The 2 amino acid replacements at positions 266 and 268, which are thought to be crucial for A or B transferase activity, could be confirmed for both macaque species. Comparison of primate sequences shows that A and B reactivity was generated independently from each other in the hominoids and Old World monkey lineages. Hence, the primate A and B blood group genes are subject to convergent evolution.
Doxiadis
G G
GG
Department of Immunobiology BPRC, Rijswijk, The Netherlands. doxiadis@bprc.nl
Otting
N
N
Antunes
S G
SG
de Groot
N G
NG
Harvey
M
M
Doxiadis
I I
II
Jonker
M
M
Bontrop
R E
RE
D000017:ABO Blood-Group System / Q000235:genetics*; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D006801:Humans; D008252:Macaca fascicularis / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D008253:Macaca mulatta / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
D000017:ABO Blood-Group System