Complete DNA Sequence Map of Ovine Major Histocompatibility Complex
Author Information
Author(s): Gao Jianfeng, Liu Ka, Liu Haibo, Blair Hugh T, Li Gang, Chen Chuangfu, Tan Pingping, Ma Runlin Z
Primary Institution: School of Life Sciences, Shihezi University, Xinjiang, China
Hypothesis
Cattle and sheep shared an ancestral chromosome containing the MHC before their divergence by evolution.
Conclusion
The ovine MHC DNA sequence map was successfully assembled, making sheep the second ruminant species with complete MHC sequence information.
Supporting Evidence
- The sequence map spans approximately 2,434,000 nucleotides in length.
- Gene annotation resulted in the identification of 177 protein-coding genes/ORFs.
- 145 of the identified genes were reported for the first time in sheep.
- 10 genes were found to be specific to the ovine species.
- 18 non-protein-coding microRNAs were predicted in the ovine MHC region.
Takeaway
Scientists created a complete map of sheep genes that help fight diseases, which is important for understanding how sheep and cows are related.
Methodology
Shotgun sequencing of 26 overlapping BAC clones was used to assemble the complete DNA sequence map.
Limitations
The study may have gaps in the sequence due to highly repetitive regions.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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