GENE CONVERSION IN THE EVOLUTION OF THE HUMAN AND CHIMPANZEE MHC CLASS I LOCI

Sixty-five DNA sequences from human and chimpanzee major histocompatibility complex class I loci were searched for statistical evidence of past gene conversion. Twenty-four potential conversions were detected; they were distributed across both variable and conserved portions of the gene, and involved both classical and non-classical loci. The majority spanned less than 100 bp, comparable in length to the conversions observed in spontaneous mutations in mice. Both within-locus and between-locus conversions were observed. Certain areas of the antigen recognition site appar to have been the target for multiple conversion events. The implications of these findings for the evolution of the class I multigene family are discussed.