title: Multiple major histocompatibility complex class I genes in Asian anurans: Ontogeny and phylogeny.
abstract: Amphibians, as the first terrestrial vertebrates, offer a window into early major histocompatibility complex (MHC) evolution. We characterized the MHC class I of two Korean amphibians, the Asiatic toad (Bufo gargarizans) and the Japanese tree frog (Hyla japonica). We found at least four transcribed MHC class I (MHC I) loci, the highest number confirmed in any anuran to date. Furthermore, we identified MHC I transcripts in terrestrial adults, and possibly in aquatic larvae, of both species. We conducted a phylogenetic analysis based on MHC I sequence data and found that B. gargarizans and H. japonica cluster together in the superfamily Nobleobatrachia. We further identified three supertypes shared by the two species. Our results reveal substantial variation in the number of MHC I loci in anurans and suggest that certain supertypes have particular physiochemical properties that may confer pathogen resistance.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Behavioral and Population Ecology, School of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 08826, South Korea.
authors.forename: Chelsea
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Didinger
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Behavioral and Population Ecology, School of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 08826, South Korea.
authors.forename: John A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Eimes
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology (IMBIM), Genomics, Uppsala University, Box 582, 75123 Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: Mette
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lillie
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Behavioral and Population Ecology, School of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 08826, South Korea. Electronic address: waldman@snu.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Bruce
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Waldman
mesh_terms: D029845:Amphibian Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D001001:Anura / Q000276:immunology*; D005075:Biological Evolution; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D007109:Immunity; D007125:Immunogenetics; D007723:Korea; D008018:Life Cycle Stages / Q000235:genetics; D008285:Major Histocompatibility Complex / Q000235:genetics; D010802:Phylogeny; D012641:Selection, Genetic
chemical_list: D029845:Amphibian Proteins; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I
keywords: Anuran amphibians; Immunogenetics; Major histocompatibility complex; Non-model species; Supertypes