Gorilla RH-like genes and antigens.
It has been previously shown that most of the human IgG monoclonal D-specific antibodies define a polymorphism in the gorilla consisting of two phenotypes: Dgor-positive and Dgor-negative. By quantitative indirect immunofluorescence assay and quantitative immunoblotting it was evaluated that the number of Dgor antigenic sites per gorilla red cell varies from a level equivalent to that observed for human RhD-positive cells to a level eight times higher. By immunoblotting with a rabbit reagent specific for the carboxylic end of human Rh-polypeptides it was demonstrated that RBCs from all gorillas, whatever their Dgor phenotype, possess 33000 relative molecular mass Rh-like polypeptides. The expression of the Dgor antigen was shown to be associated with the presence of three polymorphic bands defined by Southern blot using a human exon 4 RHCE probe, and to a length polymorphism of gorilla intron 3 evidenced by polymerase chain reaction. By contrast, the expression of the Dgor antigen was not associated to the length polymorphism of gorilla intron 4 which is related to the presence or absence of an Alu-Sx element in intron 4, paralleling the situation observed in human. These results confirmed the presence in the gorilla genome of at least two RH-like genes, one of which being responsible for Dgor polymorphism. The phylogenesis of the human and gorilla RH genes is discussed in light of the comparison of intron 4 sequences.
Apoil
P A
PA
Laboratoire d'Immunogénétique Moléculaire, Université Paul Sabatier, Pavillon Charles Lefebvre, Hôpital Purpan, Toulouse, France.
Roubinet
F
F
Blancher
A
A
D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000097:blood; D000937:Antigen-Antibody Reactions; D001483:Base Sequence; D015139:Blotting, Southern; D005091:Exons; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D006071:Gorilla gorilla / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D015151:Immunoblotting; D007438:Introns; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012204:Rh-Hr Blood-Group System / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D006023:Glycoproteins; C066468:RHCE protein, human; D012204:Rh-Hr Blood-Group System; C026410:Rho(D) antigen