New species-specific alleles at the primate MHC-G locus

Hum Immunol. 1994 Sep;41(1):52-5. doi: 10.1016/0198-8859(94)90084-1.

Abstract

Six different ape MHC-G DNA sequences (four in humans: HLA-G*01011, HLA-G*II, HLA-G*0103, and HLA-G*IV; one in chimpanzees: Patr-G*I; and one in gorillas: Gogo-G*1) have been obtained. Only synonymous or conservative ("Thr"-to-"Ser") substitutions are allowed between the four human alleles. One allele of MHC-G exon-2 sequences has been found both in gorilla (Gorilla gorilla) and chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes). The Patr-G*I DNA sequence shows two nonsynonymous substitutions when compared with the human HLA-G*01011 sequence: "CGG"-to-"TGG" ("Arg"-to-"Trp") at codon 35 and "ATG"-to-"ATA" ("Met"-to-"Ile") at codon 76. One nonsynonymous "GAG"-to-"GGG" ("Glu"-to-"Gly") substitution is observed in the Gogo-G*I exon-2 DNA sequence, when compared with the human *01011 allele. None of these three different substitutions have been observed in humans and are, thus, considered species specific. Also, evidence is provided that the human HLA-G*II and G*0103 may have been originated after human speciation. Finally, phylogenetic relationships among the six MHC-G alleles, tamarins G-"like" alleles, and other human class I genes (both "classical" and "nonclassic") are discussed.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alleles*
  • Animals
  • Base Sequence
  • Cell Line
  • Genes, MHC Class I / genetics*
  • Gorilla gorilla
  • HLA Antigens / genetics
  • HLA-G Antigens
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / genetics
  • Humans
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Pan troglodytes
  • Phylogeny
  • Primates / genetics
  • Primates / immunology*
  • Species Specificity

Substances

  • HLA Antigens
  • HLA-G Antigens
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class I

Associated data

  • GENBANK/M95736
  • GENBANK/M95737