Balancing Selection and Genetic Drift at Major Histocompatibility Complex Class II Genes in Isolated Populations of Golden Snub-nosed Monkey (Rhinopithecus Roxellana)

Overview

Journal BMC Evol Biol

Publisher Biomed Central

Specialty Biology

Date 2012 Oct 23

PMID 23083308

Citations 15

Authors

Mao-Fang Luo

Hui-Juan Pan

Zhi-Jin Liu

Ming Li

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Small, isolated populations often experience loss of genetic variation due to random genetic drift. Unlike neutral or nearly neutral markers (such as mitochondrial genes or microsatellites), major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genes in these populations may retain high levels of polymorphism due to balancing selection. The relative roles of balancing selection and genetic drift in either small isolated or bottlenecked populations remain controversial. In this study, we examined the mechanisms maintaining polymorphisms of MHC genes in small isolated populations of the endangered golden snub-nosed monkey (Rhinopithecus roxellana) by comparing genetic variation found in MHC and microsatellite loci. There are few studies of this kind conducted on highly endangered primate species.

Results: Two MHC genes were sequenced and sixteen microsatellite loci were genotyped from samples representing three isolated populations. We isolated nine DQA1 alleles and sixteen DQB1 alleles and validated expression of the alleles. Lowest genetic variation for both MHC and microsatellites was found in the Shennongjia (SNJ) population. Historical balancing selection was revealed at both the DQA1 and DQB1 loci, as revealed by excess non-synonymous substitutions at antigen binding sites (ABS) and maximum-likelihood-based random-site models. Patterns of microsatellite variation revealed population structure. FST outlier analysis showed that population differentiation at the two MHC loci was similar to the microsatellite loci.

Conclusions: MHC genes and microsatellite loci showed the same allelic richness pattern with the lowest genetic variation occurring in SNJ, suggesting that genetic drift played a prominent role in these isolated populations. As MHC genes are subject to selective pressures, the maintenance of genetic variation is of particular interest in small, long-isolated populations. The results of this study may contribute to captive breeding and translocation programs for endangered species.

Citing Articles

Balancing selection shapes population differentiation of major histocompatibility complex genes in wild golden snub-nosed monkeys.

Dong S, Zhang B, Huang K, Ying M, Yan J, Niu F Curr Zool. 2024; 70(5):596-606.

PMID: 39463695 PMC: 11502152. DOI: 10.1093/cz/zoad043.

Moderate Genetic Diversity of MHC Genes in an Isolated Small Population of Black-and-White Snub-Nosed Monkeys ().

Yan J, Song C, Liang J, La Y, Lai J, Pan R Animals (Basel). 2024; 14(15).

PMID: 39123802 PMC: 11310952. DOI: 10.3390/ani14152276.

Recent Advances in Genetics and Genomics of Snub-Nosed Monkeys () and Their Implications for Phylogeny, Conservation, and Adaptation.

Kuang W, Zinner D, Li Y, Yao X, Roos C, Yu L Genes (Basel). 2023; 14(5).

PMID: 37239345 PMC: 10218336. DOI: 10.3390/genes14050985.

Complex patterns shape immune genes diversity during invasion of common raccoon in Europe - Selection in action despite genetic drift.

Konopinski M, Fijarczyk A, Biedrzycka A Evol Appl. 2023; 16(1):134-151.

PMID: 36699132 PMC: 9850017. DOI: 10.1111/eva.13517.

MHC-Based Mate Choice in Wild Golden Snub-Nosed Monkeys.

Zhang B, Hu H, Song C, Huang K, Dunn D, Yang X Front Genet. 2021; 11:609414.

PMID: 33408742 PMC: 7779673. DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2020.609414.

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