title: Characterization of the MHC class II α-chain gene in ducks.
abstract: In humans, classical MHC class II molecules include DQ, DR, and DP, which are similar in structure but consist of distinct α- and β-chains. The genes encoding these molecules are all located in the MHC class II gene region. In non-mammalian vertebrates such as chickens, only a single class II α-chain gene corresponding to the human DRA has been identified. Here, we report a characterization of the duck MHC class II α-chain (Anpl-DRA) encoding gene, which contains four exons encoding a typical signal peptide, a peptide-binding α1 domain, an immunoglobulin-like α2 domain, and Tm/Cyt, respectively. This gene is present in the duck genome as a single copy and is highly expressed in the spleen. Sequencing of cDNA and genomic DNA of the Anpl-DRA of different duck individuals/strains revealed low levels of genetic polymorphism, especially in the same strain, although most duck individuals have two different alleles. Otherwise, we found that the duck gene is located next to class II β genes, which is the same as in humans but different from the situation in chickens.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Liming
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.forename: Zhi
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Ziding
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fei
authors.forename: Yonghua
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Bao
authors.forename: Tong
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Qin
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yinhua
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Xiaoxiang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Yaofeng
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Ning
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D004372:Ducks / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D005091:Exons; D018628:Gene Dosage; D005802:Genes, MHC Class II; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D013154:Spleen / Q000378:metabolism