The genomic organisation of the MHC varies enormously across jawed vertebrates.
•Total numbers of MHC genes vary among vertebrates, with only a few classical MHC genes.
•Some nonclassical MHC and classical pathway genes appear earlier than others.
•Obvious co-evolution within MHC pathways occurs in some species, but not others.
•The promiscuity of interactions may correlate with differences in genomic organisation.
The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) of mammals encodes highly polymorphic classical class I and class II molecules with crucial roles in immune responses, as well as various nonclassical molecules encoded by the MHC and elsewhere in the genome that have a variety of functions. These MHC molecules are supported by antigen processing and peptide loading pathways which are well-understood in mammals. This review considers what has been learned about the MHC, MHC molecules and the supporting pathways in non-mammalian jawed vertebrates. From the initial understanding from work with the chicken MHC, a great deal of diversity in the structure and function has been found. Are there underlying principles?
AbbreviationsTAPtransporters associated with antigen presentation
HLAhuman leukocyte antigen
BACbacterial artificial chromosome
BRD2bromodomain-containing protein 2
BF-BLthe region including class I (BF) and class II (BLB) genes in the chicken
APLLantigen processing and peptide loading
CD1cluster of differentiation antigen 1
MR1MHC class I-related gene 1
YFclass I gene of the chicken Y region
TAPBPRTAP-binding protein-related
TAPBPLTAP-binding protein-like
YLBclass II B gene of the chicken Y region
© 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.
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