title: Molecular cloning and characterization of major histocompatibility complex class I cDNAs from woodchuck (Marmota monax).
abstract: The full-length cDNAs of woodchuck major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I (MhcMamo-I or Mamo-I) genes were cloned by using cellular mRNA isolated from the peripheral blood mononuclear cells and liver tissues of woodchucks. DNA sequence analysis of Mamo-I cDNAs revealed that the coding regions of Mamo-I genes were about 1,080 bp long, encoding 359 amino acid residues. The deduced amino acid sequences of Mamo-I showed structural features like leader, alpha1, alpha2, alpha3, transmembrane and cytoplasmic domains, similar to their homologues in human and other mammals. Analysis of five full-length clones from unrelated woodchucks indicated a polymorphism within the alpha1 and alpha2 domains of Mamo-I heavy chain and a high conservation within the alpha3 and the transmembrane/cytoplasmic domains. Amino acid residues of the alpha2 and alpha3 domains that are supposed to be involved in the binding of MHC class I to CD8 molecule, were largely conserved in Mamo-I genes. Phylogenetic comparison of MHC class I genes of woodchuck and other mammals indicated a close evolutionary relationship between woodchuck and squirrel MHC class I. We tentatively named this region the locus A of Mamo-I genes (Mamo-A). Sequence analysis of 101 clones of alpha1 and alpha2 regions derived from 14 woodchucks revealed that at least 14 different alleles within Mamo-A exist. Among these 14 alleles identified so far, Mamo-A*01 and Mamo-A*09 were of the highest frequency of about 21.5% and 14.5%, respectively. Our results indicate that Mamo-I genes are of a similar molecular structure to those of human and other mammals.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Virology, Medical School of Essen University, Germany.
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: L J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Hao
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Roggendorf
mesh_terms: D000483:Alleles; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005787:Gene Frequency / Q000276:immunology; D005805:Genes, MHC Class I / Q000235:genetics*; D014644:Genetic Variation / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008392:Marmota / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D018076:DNA, Complementary