Molecular Evolution Of The Major Histocompatibility Complex (nato Asi Series (closed) / Nato Asi Subseries H: (closed))

From molecules to populations and back In biology, the most vigorous organisms often ensue from a union of two disparate, pure lines. In science, too, laws of hybrid vigor seem to operate at the interface between two disciplines, an interface that often proves to be fertile ground for germinating concepts and new outlooks. The fringes of research into the major histocompatibility complex (Mhc) have provided such an interface several times in the past and the encounters have invigorated fields such as transplantation biology, cellular immunology, and immunogenetics. In the last few years, a new interface has been emerging between Mhc and evolutionary genetics, and particularly the branch of evolutionary genetics dealing with molecular evolution. Mhc research relies upon molecular evolutionary genetics, with its grand superstructure of mathematical formulations, to come to grips with the events leading to and maintaining the Mhc polymorphism. Without the armament of rigorous statistical procedures developed by evolutionary geneticists, the intricate relationships among Mhc genes cannot be resolved. It will undoubtedly be a molecular geneticist who is the final arbiter in the dispute concerning the nature of the selection pressure molding the Mhc genes. And it is doubtful whether the true function of Mhc can ever be comprehended without the vantage point afforded by the elucidation of its evolutionary history. Front Matter....Pages I-XIII Organization and Evolution of the MHC Chromosomal Region: An Overview....Pages 1-11 Reconstruction of Phylogenetic Trees and Evolution of Major Histocompatibility Complex Genes....Pages 13-27 Trans-Species Polymorphism of HLA Molecules, Founder Principle, and Human Evolution....Pages 29-49 Calibrating Evolutionary Rates at Major Histocompatibility Complex Loci....Pages 51-62 Concerted Mutagenesis: Its Potential Impact on Interpretation of Evolutionary Relationships....Pages 63-94 Two Models of Evolution of the Class I MHC....Pages 95-101 Evolution of MHC Domains: Strategy for Isolation of MHC Genes from Primitive Animals....Pages 103-109 Generation of Allelic Polymorphism at the DRB1 Locus of Primates by Exchange of Polymorphic Domains: A Plausible Hypothesis?....Pages 111-118 A Phylogenetic Investigation of MHC Class II DRB Genes Reveals Convergent Evolution in the Antigen Binding Site....Pages 119-130 Diversification of Class II Aα Within the Genus Mus....Pages 131-138 Molecular and Genetic Mechanisms Involved in the Generation of Mhc Diversity....Pages 139-154 Evidence for Multiple Mutational Mechanisms which Generate Polymorphism at H-2K ....Pages 155-161 Contributions of Interlocus Exchange to the Structural Diversity of the H-2K , D, and L Alleles....Pages 163-170 Evolution of Great Ape MHC Class I Genes....Pages 171-175 Evolution of New World Primate MHC Class I Genes....Pages 177-191 Polymorphisms of the Major Histocompatibility Complex in Old and New World Primates....Pages 193-200 Mhc Class II Genes of New World Monkeys and their Relationship to Human Genes....Pages 201-212 Selective Inactivation of the Primate Mhc-DQA2 Locus....Pages 213-220 Is DQB2 Functional Among Nonhuman Primates?....Pages 221-229 Alu Repeats and Evolution of the HLA-DQA1 Locus....Pages 231-242 The ALU Repeats of The Primate DRB Genes....Pages 243-255 Interpreting MHC Disequilibrium....Pages 257-260 Frozen Haplotypes in Mhc Evolution....Pages 261-286 The Age and Evolution of the DRB Pseudogenes....Pages 287-297 Organization and Evolution of the HLA-DRB Genes....Pages 299-311 The MHC of Peromyscus Leucopus (Mhc-Pele) Illustrates Large- and Small-Scale Expansion in the Phylogeny of MHC Loci....Pages 313-321 Sequence and Evolution of Bovine MHC Class I Genes....Pages 323-327 Evolution of MHC Molecules in Nonmammalian Vertebrates....Pages 329-341 The Polymorphic B-G Antigens of the Chicken MHC – Do the Structure and Tissue Distribution Suggest a Function?....Pages 343-356 Evolution of Primate C4 and CYP21 Genes....Pages 357-381 Mapping of a Hot Spot in the Major Recombination Area of the Mouse H-2 Complex....Pages 383-389 Conservation Versus Polymorphism of the MHC in Relation to Transplantation, Immune Responses and Autoimmune Disease....Pages 391-402 HLA Associations with Malaria in Africa: Some Implications for MHC Evolution....Pages 403-420 The Evolution of MHC-Based Mating Preferences in Mus ....Pages 421-434 Possible MHC Associated Heterozygous Advantage in Wild Mouse Populations....Pages 435-440 Antigen Presentation by Neoclassical MHC Class I Gene Products in Murine Rodents....Pages 441-462 Mls Antigens (Superantigens), Class II MHC, and TCR Repertoire: Co-Adaptive Evolution....Pages 463-471 Diversity and Evolution at the Eb Recombinational Hotspot in the Mouse....Pages 473-482 Molecular Dissection of the Eb Recombinational Hotspot in the Mouse....Pages 483-489 Molecular Cloning of Nurse Shark cDNAs with High Sequence Similarity to Nucleoside Diphosphate Kinase Genes....Pages 491-499 Back Matter....Pages 501-513 This volume provides the latest and most up-to-date information on the majorhistocompatibility complex in the different vertebrate classes from fishes to mammals. Its individual chapters provide stimulating new insights into the nature of Mhc variability, the manner of Mhc evolution; the importance of Mhc for understanding human evolution, and the interpretation of Mhc polymorphism