Positive diversifying selection in avian Mx genes.

Immunogenetics
Sofia BerlinHans Ellegren

Abstract

Mx proteins are interferon-induced GTPases that confer antiviral activities against RNA viruses. We analysed the molecular evolution of the Mx gene in birds using data on interspecific divergence in anseriform and galliform birds, and on intraspecific diversity in commercial chicken lines, local Chinese chicken breeds as well as in the mallard. The overall ratio of non-synonymous to synonymous substitution was unusually high, 0.80, indicating relaxed constraint or positive selection. Evidence for the latter was provided by that a total of 11-18 codons were found to have evolved under positive selection. The great majority of these codons are located in a region unique to birds at the N-terminal end of the Mx protein. We found an excess of non-synonymous polymorphisms relative to synonymous variants in all comparisons. This, together with positive Tajima's D values in the local Chinese chicken breeds and in the mallard suggests that balancing selection is acting in avian Mx genes. As such, Mx mimics the major histocompatibility complex system, indicating that heterozygous individuals are better off withstanding pathogen attack.

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Citations

Oct 5, 2010·Genome Biology and Evolution·Robert EkblomTerry Burke
Jun 17, 2009·BMC Evolutionary Biology·Tim DowningDaniel G Bradley
Jun 23, 2010·Genetics and Molecular Research : GMR·L SironiP Mariani
Feb 28, 2009·Immunogenetics·Tim DowningDaniel G Bradley
Jul 14, 2010·Infection, Genetics and Evolution : Journal of Molecular Epidemiology and Evolutionary Genetics in Infectious Diseases·Danielle Dillon, Jonathan Runstadler
Oct 20, 2011·Molecular Ecology·Jennifer L BollmerPeter O Dunn
May 21, 2010·The Journal of Immunology : Official Journal of the American Association of Immunologists·Tim DowningDaniel G Bradley

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