Increased reproductive success of MHC class II heterozygous males among free-ranging rhesus macaques.
Gene conversion and balancing selection have been invoked to explain the ubiquitous diversity of the antigen-presenting proteins encoded in the vertebrate major histocompatibility complex (MHC). In the present study, direct evidence for over-dominant selection promoting MHC diversity in primates is provided by the observation that, in a large free-ranging population of rhesus macaques, males heterozygous at MHC class II locus Mamu-DQB1 sired significantly more offspring than homozygotes (the male-specific selection coefficient s equals 0.34). This heterozygote advantage appeared to be independent of the actual male Mamu-DQB1 genotype. No similar effect emerged for a captive group of monkeys of similar genetic background but under veterinary care.
Sauermann
U
U
Deutsches Primatenzentrum, Arbeitsgruppe Primatengenetik, Göttingen, Germany.
Nürnberg
P
P
Bercovitch
F B
FB
Berard
J D
JD
Trefilov
A
A
Widdig
A
A
Kessler
M
M
Schmidtke
J
J
Krawczak
M
M
D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D005802:Genes, MHC Class II / Q000235:genetics*; D005838:Genotype; D006579:Heterozygote; D006720:Homozygote; D008253:Macaca mulatta; D008297:Male; D012098:Reproduction / Q000235:genetics*; D012641:Selection, Genetic; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal