Evolution of MHC class I genes in the endangered loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) revealed by 454 amplicon sequencing
Autor: | Frédéric J. J. Chain, Christophe Eizaguirre, S. E. Merino, Victor A. Stiebens |
---|---|
Jazyk: | angličtina |
Předmět: |
0106 biological sciences
Genotype Major histocompatibility complex Population Intermediate diversity Endangered species Genes MHC Class I Reptilian Proteins 010603 evolutionary biology 01 natural sciences Loggerhead sea turtle Evolution Molecular 03 medical and health sciences MHC class I Animals 14. Life underwater education Genotyping Phylogeny Ecology Evolution Behavior and Systematics 030304 developmental biology 0303 health sciences education.field_of_study Genetic diversity biology Methodology Article Endangered Species MHC Class I Gene Genetic Variation Reptiles Sequence Analysis DNA biology.organism_classification Turtles Evolutionary biology biology.protein Trans-species polymorphism human activities |
Zdroj: | BMC Evolutionary Biology BMC Evolutionary Biology, 13 . No. 95. |
ISSN: | 1471-2148 |
DOI: | 10.1186/1471-2148-13-95 |
Popis: | Background In evolutionary and conservation biology, parasitism is often highlighted as a major selective pressure. To fight against parasites and pathogens, genetic diversity of the immune genes of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) are particularly important. However, the extensive degree of polymorphism observed in these genes makes it difficult to conduct thorough population screenings. Methods We utilized a genotyping protocol that uses 454 amplicon sequencing to characterize the MHC class I in the endangered loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) and to investigate their evolution at multiple relevant levels of organization. Results MHC class I genes revealed signatures of trans-species polymorphism across several reptile species. In the studied loggerhead turtle individuals, it results in the maintenance of two ancient allelic lineages. We also found that individuals carrying an intermediate number of MHC class I alleles are larger than those with either a low or high number of alleles. Conclusions Multiple modes of evolution seem to maintain MHC diversity in the loggerhead turtles, with relatively high polymorphism for an endangered species. |
Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
Externí odkaz: |