Cloning of the MHC class II DRB cDNA from the brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula).
The cell-surface glycoproteins encoded by the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) bind to processed foreign antigens and present them to T lymphocytes. Two classes of MHC molecules and their corresponding gene sequences have been extensively studied in eutherian mammals and birds, but data on the marsupial MHC are limited. Marsupials split from eutherian mammals about 125 million years ago and represent a distinct branch in mammalian evolution. Here the cDNA cloning of MHC class II genes of the brushtail possums (Trichosurus vulpecula) is reported. The sequences obtained were found to be relatively conserved when compared to the red-necked wallaby (Macropus rufogriseus) and an South American marsupial, Monodelphis domestica. The T. vulpecula sequence shared an average overall sequence identity of 75.4% at the deduced amino acid level with M. rufogriseus and M. domestica, respectively.
Department of Biological Sciences, Australasian Fauna Laboratories, Macquarie University, NSW 2109, North Ryde, Australia. mlam@rna.bio.edu.au
M K
MK
Lam
K
K
Belov
G A
GA
Harrison
D W
DW
Cooper
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002415:Cats; D002417:Cattle; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006041:Goats; D006071:Gorilla gorilla; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D007614:Macropodidae; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009893:Opossums / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*
D018076:DNA, Complementary; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II