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The nucleotide sequence and evolution of ovine MHC class II B genes: DQB and DRB

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Abstract

The nucleotide sequences of one Ovar-DQB gene, excluding exon 1 and parts of the introns, and one Ovar-DRB pseudogene are presented. The structure of the Ovar-DQB gene is typical of a major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II B gene and demonstrats considerable sequence similarity with that of humans including such characteristics as the less common polyadenylation signal, ATTAAA. The ovine sequence has a typical 5' acceptor splice signal for exon 5, thus potentially encoding a full length cytoplasmic tail. The Ovar-DRB gene identified in this study was found to be a pseudogene, lacking a defined exon 2 and containing premature termination codons in both exons 3 and 4. The 3' donor splice site of exon 3 is also atypical. A purine-pyrimidine microsatellite repeat, (dC⋆dA)15, in the 3' region of the pseudogene may be a hotspot for recombination within the ovine DR subregion.

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The nucleotide sequence data reported in this paper have been submitted to the GenBank nucleotide sequence database and have been assigned the accession numbers M33306 and M33307.

Address correspondence and offprint requests to: M. R. Brandon.

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Scott, P.C., Maddox, J.F., Gogolin-Ewens, K.J. et al. The nucleotide sequence and evolution of ovine MHC class II B genes: DQB and DRB . Immunogenetics 34, 80–87 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00211420

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00211420

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