title: The orthologs of HLA-DQ and -DP genes display abundant levels of variability in macaque species.
abstract: The human major histocompatibility complex (MHC) region encodes three types of class II molecules designated HLA-DR, -DQ, and -DP. Both the HLA-DQ and -DP gene region comprise a duplicated tandem of A and B genes, whereas in macaques, only one set of genes is present per region. A substantial sequencing project on the DQ and DP genes in various macaque populations resulted in the detection of previously 304 unreported full-length alleles. Phylogenetic studies showed that humans and macaques share trans-species lineages for the DQA1 and DQB1 genes, whereas the DPA1 and DPB1 lineages in macaques appear to be species-specific. Amino acid variability plot analyses revealed that each of the four genes displays more allelic variation in macaques than is encountered in humans. Moreover, the numbers of different amino acids at certain positions in the encoded proteins are higher than in humans. This phenomenon is remarkably prominent at the contact positions of the peptide-binding sites of the deduced macaque DPβ-chains. These differences in the MHC class II DP regions of macaques and humans suggest separate evolutionary mechanisms in the generation of diversity.
authors: Department of Comparative Genetics and Refinement, Biomedical Primate Research Centre (BPRC), Lange Kleiweg 161, 2288 GJ, Rijswijk, The Netherlands. otting@bprc.nl.
authors: Nel
authors: N
authors: Otting
authors: Department of Comparative Genetics and Refinement, Biomedical Primate Research Centre (BPRC), Lange Kleiweg 161, 2288 GJ, Rijswijk, The Netherlands.
authors: Marit K H
authors: MK
authors: van der Wiel
authors: Department of Comparative Genetics and Refinement, Biomedical Primate Research Centre (BPRC), Lange Kleiweg 161, 2288 GJ, Rijswijk, The Netherlands.
authors: Nanine
authors: N
authors: de Groot
authors: Department of Comparative Genetics and Refinement, Biomedical Primate Research Centre (BPRC), Lange Kleiweg 161, 2288 GJ, Rijswijk, The Netherlands.
authors: Annemiek J M
authors: AJ
authors: de Vos-Rouweler
authors: Department of Comparative Genetics and Refinement, Biomedical Primate Research Centre (BPRC), Lange Kleiweg 161, 2288 GJ, Rijswijk, The Netherlands.
authors: Natasja G
authors: NG
authors: de Groot
authors: Department of Comparative Genetics and Refinement, Biomedical Primate Research Centre (BPRC), Lange Kleiweg 161, 2288 GJ, Rijswijk, The Netherlands.
authors: Gaby G M
authors: GG
authors: Doxiadis
authors: Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA.
authors: Roger W
authors: RW
authors: Wiseman
authors: Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA.
authors: David H
authors: DH
authors: O'Connor
authors: Department of Comparative Genetics and Refinement, Biomedical Primate Research Centre (BPRC), Lange Kleiweg 161, 2288 GJ, Rijswijk, The Netherlands.|Department of Biology, Theoretical Biology and Bioinformatics, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors: Ronald E
authors: RE
authors: Bontrop
mesh_terms: D000483:Alleles; D000818:Animals; D005075:Biological Evolution; D005787:Gene Frequency; D014644:Genetic Variation / Q000235:genetics*; D006682:HLA-DP Antigens / Q000235:genetics*; D006683:HLA-DQ Antigens / Q000235:genetics*; D006239:Haplotypes; D006801:Humans; D008253:Macaca mulatta / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics*; D010802:Phylogeny
chemical_list: D006682:HLA-DP Antigens; D006683:HLA-DQ Antigens
keywords: MHC; Mafa; Mamu; Mane; Nonhuman primates