作 者：Wang, Z; Zhou, XP; Lin, QX;Fang, WZ;Chen, XL

影响因子：2.806

刊物名称：PLOS ONE

出版年份：2017

卷： 12(5)The genes of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) are important to vertebrate immune

system. In this study, two new MHC class I genes, designated as Egeu-UAA and Egeu-

UBA, were discovered in the vulnerable Chinese egret (Egretta eulophotes). Using a full

length DNA and cDNA produced by PCR and RACE methods, these two MHC class I loci

were characterized in the genome of the Chinese egret and were also found to be expressed

in liver and blood. Both new genes showed the expected eight exons and were similar to two

copies of the minimal essential MHC complex of chicken. In genetic diversity, 14 alleles (8

for UAA and 6 for UBA) in the MHC class I gene exon 3 were found in 60 individuals using

locus-specific primers and showed little polymorphism. Only three potential amino acid residues

were detected under positive selection in potential peptide-binding regions (PBRs) by

Bayesian analysis. These new results provide the fundamental basis for further studies to

elucidate the molecular mechanisms and significance of MHC molecular adaptation in vulnerable

Chinese egret and other ardeids, finding that have not been previously reported.

Fig 8.Schematic illustration of MHC class I genes in the Chinese egret.