10.5061/DRYAD.3MG2H
Biedrzycka, Aleksandra
Institute of Nature Conservation
O’Connor, Emily
Lund University
Sebastian, Alvaro
Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań
Migalska, Magdalena
Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań
Radwan, Jacek
Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań
Zając, Tadeusz
Institute of Nature Conservation
Bielański, Wojciech
Institute of Nature Conservation
Solarz, Wojciech
Institute of Nature Conservation
Ćmiel, Adam
Institute of Nature Conservation
Westerdahl, Helena
Lund University
Data from: Extreme MHC class I diversity in the sedge warbler
(Acrocephalus schoenobaenus); selection patterns and allelic divergence
suggest that different genes have different functions
Dryad
dataset
2017
passerine birds
different functions of loci
MHC class I
extreme diversity
present
Acrocephalus schoenabaenus
2017-06-15T17:58:06Z
2017-06-15T17:58:06Z
en
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12862-017-0997-9
851536 bytes
1
CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication
Background: Recent work suggests that gene duplications may play an
important role in the evolution of immunity genes. Passerine birds, and in
particular Sylvioidea warblers, have highly duplicated major
histocompatibility complex (MHC) genes, which are key in immunity,
compared to other vertebrates. However, reasons for this high MHC gene
copy number are yet unclear. High-throughput sequencing (HTS) allows MHC
genotyping even in individuals with extremely duplicated genes. This HTS
data can reveal evidence of selection, which may help to unravel the
putative functions of different gene copies, i.e. neofunctionalization. We
performed exhaustive genotyping of MHC class I in a Sylvioidea warbler,
the sedge warbler, Acrocephalus schoenobaenus, using the Illumina MiSeq
technique on individuals from a wild study population. Results: The MHC
diversity in 863 genotyped individuals by far exceeds that of any other
bird species described to date. A single individual could carry up to 65
different alleles, a large proportion of which are expressed
(transcribed). The MHC alleles were of three different lengths differing
in evidence of selection, diversity and divergence within our study
population. Alleles without any deletions and alleles containing a 6 bp
deletion showed characteristics of classical MHC genes, with evidence of
multiple sites subject to positive selection and high sequence divergence.
In contrast, alleles containing a 3 bp deletion had no sites subject to
positive selection and had low divergence. Conclusions: Our results
suggest that sedge warbler MHC alleles that either have no deletion, or
contain a 6 bp deletion, encode classical antigen presenting MHC
molecules. In contrast, MHC alleles containing a 3 bp deletion may encode
molecules with a different function. This study demonstrates that highly
duplicated MHC genes can be characterised with HTS and that selection
patterns can be useful for revealing neofunctionalization. Importantly,
our results highlight the need to consider the putative function of
different MHC genes in future studies of MHC in relation to disease
resistance and fitness.
long_reads_cDNA_sequences4inds_gDNA_cDNAsedge_warbler_genotyping_results
50°33'–50°35' N
20°28'–20°32' E