Skip to main content
BMC Genomics logoLink to BMC Genomics
. 2012 Aug 16;13:398. doi: 10.1186/1471-2164-13-398

A physical map of a BAC clone contig covering the entire autosome insertion between ovine MHC Class IIa and IIb

Gang Li 1,2, Ka Liu 2,5, Shasha Jiao 1,2, Haibo Liu 2, Hugh T Blair 3,4, Peng Zhang 2,5, Xiaoran Cui 2, Pingping Tan 2, Jianfeng Gao 1,4,, Runlin Z Ma 2,4,5,6,
PMCID: PMC3475007  PMID: 22897909

Abstract

Background

The ovine Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) harbors genes involved in overall resistance/susceptibility of the host to infectious diseases. Compared to human and mouse, the ovine MHC is interrupted by a large piece of autosome insertion via a hypothetical chromosome inversion that constitutes ~25% of ovine chromosome 20. The evolutionary consequence of such an inversion and an insertion (inversion/insertion) in relation to MHC function remains unknown. We previously constructed a BAC clone physical map for the ovine MHC exclusive of the insertion region. Here we report the construction of a high-density physical map covering the autosome insertion in order to address the question of what the inversion/insertion had to do with ruminants during the MHC evolution.

Results

A total of 119 pairs of comparative bovine oligo primers were utilized to screen an ovine BAC library for positive clones and the orders and overlapping relationships of the identified clones were determined by DNA fingerprinting, BAC-end sequencing, and sequence-specific PCR. A total of 368 positive BAC clones were identified and 108 of the effective clones were ordered into an overlapping BAC contig to cover the consensus region between ovine MHC class IIa and IIb. Therefore, a continuous physical map covering the entire ovine autosome inversion/insertion region was successfully constructed. The map confirmed the bovine sequence assembly for the same homologous region. The DNA sequences of 185 BAC-ends have been deposited into NCBI database with the access numbers HR309252 through HR309068, corresponding to dbGSS ID 30164010 through 30163826.

Conclusions

We have constructed a high-density BAC clone physical map for the ovine autosome inversion/insertion between the MHC class IIa and IIb. The entire ovine MHC region is now fully covered by a continuous BAC clone contig. The physical map we generated will facilitate MHC functional studies in the ovine, as well as the comparative MHC evolution in ruminants.

Keywords: Ovine, MHC, OLA, Physical map, BAC, Comparative mapping

Background

The mammalian Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) harbors genes involved in overall resistance/susceptibility of animals to infectious pathogens, including viral, bacterial, internal and external parasites. Pathogens serve as sources of selection pressure to their host animals, and the hosts are forced to develop effective strategies to fight against the pathogens in various environments. Such co-evolutionary struggles may have left distinct marks in the genome of each species involved, and mammalian MHC regions have been shaped into clusters of immunological gene families by such host-pathogen interactions, probably via functional gene duplications [1-3]. The implications of ovine MHC molecules in providing protection against pathogens [4-8] and the associated structures of the artiodactyl’s MHC region in general have led to a number of studies into the sheep MHC [9-15].

The ovine MHC, also called ovine leukocyte antigen (OLA), is located on the long arm of ovine chromosome 20 (OAR 20q15–20q23) with a similar structure and organization to that of human and other mammals [16]. The literature shows that MHC genes play vital roles in resistance of animals to foot rot [17], parasites [9], and bovine leukemia virus [7]. To date, the majority of studies on the structure and organization of the ovine MHC have focused on the gene content and polymorphism of the class II region [18-23]. Although most loci in the sheep MHC are found to be homologous to their counterparts in the human MHC [12,21,24,25], there are significant differences. Examples of such differences include the DP loci in human being replaced by DY in sheep [19,21,26,27], and the number of DQA loci varying significantly among sheep breeds [20,22,28].

Compared to human and mouse, the structure of the sheep MHC is interrupted by a piece of ~14 Mb autosome insertion, possibly via a hypothetical chromosome inversion (inversion/insertion) in the class II region, similar to that of cattle [24,29-32]. The inversion/insertion constitutes ~25% of ovine chromosome 20, which spliced the MHC class II region into IIa and IIb. The significance of such an insertion in relation to the ovine MHC functions remains unknown. The evolutionary consequence of such an event is also worthy of attention, because some of the ovine-specific MHC loci like DY, and Dsb are located near the boundary region of the inversion/insertion. We previously constructed a physical map of BAC clone contigs covering the ovine MHC except the autosome insertion region [12,13], and a high accuracy sequence map of sheep OLA was accordingly constructed [14].

With the initial release of sheep whole genome reference sequences by the International Sheep Genomic Consortium (ISGC), much more genome sequence information is now accessible for functional and comparative studies [33]. Nevertheless, the sequence map would serve the research community even better if it is cross-referenced/checked for accuracy in DNA sequence and assembly, at least for some chromosome regions, by an alternative approach. In this regard, the detailed information is still not fully available for the gene structure, organization, and DNA sequence for the ovine chromosome region between OLA class IIa and IIb [12,14,27].

In this paper, we describe the construction of a BAC physical map covering the entire autosome insertion between ovine MHC class IIa and IIb. Because ovine and bovine species share the consensus structure and organization in the entire MHC region [24,29-32], we used comparative approaches to screen a sheep BAC library with 119 bovine oligo nucleotide primers designed from the bovine genomic sequences for the consensus region. The order and overlapping relationship of the identified BAC clones were determined by DNA fingerprinting, BAC-end sequencing, and sequence-specific PCR. A total of 108 effective overlapping BAC clones were selected to fully cover the region between class IIa and IIb. The physical map we constructed will help to generate ovine MHC sequencing map with a high level of accuracy, which in turn will facilitate MHC functional and comparative MHC evolution studies in ruminants.

Methods

Comparative design of oligo primers

A BAC library was previously constructed using the genome DNA from a male Chinese merino sheep, with a total of 190,500 BAC clones and an average insert length of 133 kb [12,13]. To screen the BAC library for positive clones in the target genome region between ovine MHC class IIa and IIb, we adapted a comparative strategy to design bovine oligo nucleotide primers using the bovine reference DNA sequences in the consensus genome region [34]. At the time this study was conducted, no sheep genomic sequence was publicly available for the genome region of our concern. Bovine DNA sequences of homologous genes, exon, intron, or partial STS sequences were acquired from the NCBI website (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/genome/sts/). Primers were designed along the bovine MHC region between class IIa and IIb, approximately 80–160 kb apart between two neighbor loci using the software Prime Primer 5.0 (Biosoft International, CA). A total of 119 bovine primer pairs were designed for screening the sheep genomic BAC library (Table1).

Table 1.

Comparative bovine primers used for identification of the positive ovine BAC clones in the genome region between MHC Class IIa and IIb*

Name Gene symbol Primer sequence (5’→3’) Product(bp) Bovine template sequence Positive Ovine
BAC clones
S001
VPS52
F: ATCAATCAGACGATTCCCAACG
246
UniSTS:279053
12 H14;12I12;12 J14; 12 K14;120P21
 
 
R: ATCAGAAACACAAGCTGCTCCT
 
 
 
S002
ZBTB22
F: TCCTACGACTTACTCCCTCC
250
UniSTS:66823
12I12;12 J14;258 F9; 289 G18
 
 
R: GGGTCAGGTGGTTGTAGTCT
 
 
 
S003
KIFC1
F: GAGACTGTCCGAGACCTGCT
1242
UniSTS:BV104878
170 G9;217 M14;289 G18
 
 
R: CTGTGACTACGCGACGAGC
 
 
 
S004
Loc100139397
F: GGTCATCATGGAGGCAGTCT
756
Exon 6: NC_007324
19 H17
 
 
R: CGTTCTCCTAAGCCATATGC
 
 
 
S005
BAK1
F: CATTGCATGGTGCTAACCGA
293
Exon 6: NC_007324
None
 
 
R: CAAGCTCAGCCTTCCAGAAC
 
 
 
S006
IHPK3
F: ATGTATGAGAGCTTGGCACG
1000
UniSTS:267905
212D3
 
 
R: TCAGCTTGTACTCTTCCAGGG
 
 
 
S007
LEMD2
F: ACGTCTACCGCAACAAGCTG
227
ENSBTAE00000168818: Exon 1
None
 
 
R: GTCTCCGATGTCACCGTAGG
 
 
 
S008
Loc790333
F: GACTGCGAGGTGCCGAAGAA
776
Exon
94 M24;114B22
 
 
R: GTGGACGGCTACACCTGCAA
 
 
 
S009
HMGA1
F: CTCATGCTCTCATTCGGACA
625
ENSBTAE00000364012: Exon 6
57 M5
 
 
R: CAGAACAGGAGGCAATGAGG
 
 
 
S010
NUDT3
F: TGAAGTGGAGAGCCTCACAA
688
ENSBTAE00000213256: Exon 5
14E10;300 G8
 
 
R: CTTCTCAGCAGACGATGGAC
 
 
 
S011
COX5B
F: GTCTCCGTGGTGCGCTCTAT
324
ENSBTAE00000098033: Exon 1,2
130 G21;130 M2;170 K16
 
 
R: GGTGTGGCACCAGCTTGTAA
 
 
 
S012
PACSIN1
F: AAGCCAGCAACAGTAGCAGC
683
ENSBTAE00000336066: Exon 10
253I24
 
 
R: TCGTTACCTGGAGACCAAGC
 
 
 
S013
C6orf106
F: AGTGAGCGGCTGAGAGAGTT
266
ENSBTAT00000048861: Exon 1
None
 
 
R: AACTCGGAGATGAGCACGTC
 
 
 
S014
SNRPC
F: CCAATGATGAGACCTCCTGC
147
ENSBTAT00000034155:Exon 6
119P19;157 K19;223 N7; 227 J17;232 G24
 
 
R: CAGAGTCACAGCACCATGAT
 
 
 
S015
TAF11
F: TGGATGTGTGTGAGAAGTGG
561
ENSBTAT00000022463: Exon 5
194 L19;215 J4;232 G24;234C5
 
 
R: TCATGGTGGAGTATCACAGG
 
 
 
S016
ANKS1A
F: CGAGGAATGGCCACAAAG
894
UniSTS:BV105378
124P23;320A1
 
 
R: ATCGGTCTTGCCAAACAAAG
 
 
 
S017
TCP11
F: ATCAGCGGATCCACTTGTTC
373
ENSBTAT00000022467: Exon 11
24D11
 
 
R: CTGGAGCTCACACACGAGGT
 
 
 
S018
DEF6
F: ACCACCAGCAGCTCCTTCAC
496
ENSBTAT00000036152: Exon 11
21 M13;66I6;124 K16; 193E6;206 L10
 
 
R: CCTGGCTTGCTTGTTGACTC
 
 
 
S019
PPARD
F: GTTCCATGGTCACCTTCTCC
353
ENSBTAT00000023319: Exon 8
28D20;152A4
 
 
R: CCGTGAATCTCGCTTCTCTT
 
 
 
S020
TEAD3
F: CCCATCACAGCTGGATTTTA
145
UniSTS:180986
None
 
 
R: AAATGAAGTACTGTGCCCCC
 
 
 
S021
Loc540812
F: TGCACTGCAACTTCCTGAAC
263
Exon
95D10;119O20;158O6
 
 
R: GCACTGCAGGCTGACTATGA
 
 
 
S022
SRPK1
F: CAGACACTTACAGGACGTGG
273
ENSBTAT00000022396: Exon 11
269D12;285I5
 
 
R: TGAAGACTGGCACATCATGG
 
 
 
S023
SLC26A8
F: ACATCAGCACCGTCAGTCACC
222
UniSTS:476830
26A21;121O15
 
 
R: AGGCGATAGAGGACAAACCACAC
 
 
 
S024
MAPK14
F: GAATGGATAACAAAACACTT
196
UniSTS:279403
26A21;121O15
 
 
R: AGGCGATAGAGGACAAACCACAC
 
 
 
S025
MAPK13
F: AGAAGCTCAATGACAAGGCG
606
UniSTS:269171
121O15;154 M16
 
 
R: TTCCATTCGTCCACTGTGAG
 
 
 
S026
BRPF3
F: GACGCCTGCATCGTATTAGC
575
ENSBTAT00000017711: Exon 1
154 M16;250 L24; 278B11;281D9;300 J5
 
 
R: AGCCAGGTTGCAGATGTCAC
 
 
 
S027
PNPLA1
F: TCCTGAACGCTGTCAACCGA
449
ENSBTAT00000055658: Exon 7
78 M7;153 F9;268E18; 319O4;337 K13
 
 
R: CAGGTGGCTGTGCAGGTGAT
 
 
 
S028
Loc790226
F: CCATGACTCCGTAGACAAGA
483
Exon
3O16;9 G2;9 G3;9 H8; 10 N2;15B13;26D1
 
 
R: ACTGCCATAGCTACTGCTGC
 
 
 
S029
KCTD20
F: CGATGCAATCACTAAGCTGG
834
ENSBTAT00000027439: Exon 8
None
 
 
R: GCAGTTCTCATCCTTCGCAC
 
 
 
S030
RPS4Y1
F: TGCCAGCCTCTTGTCTCTCT
430
ENSBTAT00000036142: Exon 2
2A3;11 H24;63 N7; 82 N20;97O2;120P24
 
 
R: TACACCTGAGGAGGCCAAGT
 
 
 
S031
CDKN1A
F: GGATCGCTAAGAGCCGGACA
861
ENSBTAT00000011001: Exon 3
None
 
 
R: GGCAGTCGCTGCTTGAGGTA
 
 
 
S032
PPIL1
F: AATGGTCAATGCGCCTGCTT
888
ENSBTAT00000003071: Exon 4
30O17;139 K9;198 M20;271C5
 
 
R: CACCAACGGCAGCCAGTTCT
 
 
 
S033
PI16
F: CCTAGCAACAGAAGCCTCAA
461
ENSBTAT00000002703: Exon 5
54O24
 
 
R: AGGCCAAGATCTCACTGCAA
 
 
 
S034
FGD2
F: CACCTTGGTGACCAACATTC
414
ENSBTAT00000018834: Exon 16
304 K7;318I17
 
 
R: ACTGCCATAGCTACTGCTGC
 
 
 
S035
PIM1
F: AAGCACGTGGAGAAGGACCG
490
UniSTS:463218
None
 
 
R: GACTGTGTCCTTGAGCAGCG
 
 
 
S036
TBC1D22B
F: CTGTCCACCACTCCATGTCT
539
ENSBTAT00000018938: Exon 13
5 K4;26A20;49B1;98 G9
 
 
R: GGACATTCGGACGTGTAACT
 
 
 
S037
RNF8
F: TCTGAATGGTGTCTGGCTGA
708
ENSBTAT00000010959: Exon 3
None
 
 
R: TTCTCGAGCTGCTCCACTCT
 
 
 
S038
Loc509620
F: AGTGGCACACCGAAGCTC
666
UniSTS:267349
25P1;103D16;207 L11; 271 M7
 
 
R: AACTTCCTCTTGAAGCTTTTGC
 
 
 
S039
C23H6orf129
F: GGCAAGAGAACCGCAAGAAC
281
ENSBTAT00000016009: Exon 4
25P1;103D16
 
 
R: GCACGAAGTCCTTCTGGAGC
 
 
 
S040
MDGA1
F: TCTTGGCGTTGCAGAGATGA
228
ENSBTAT00000047505: Exon 16
None
 
 
R: TGTGCGTGTGTCGAACAACC
 
 
 
S041
ZFAND3
F: CGATTGGTTTAATTTTTTTTTTCA
200
UniSTS:34520
159 K21;185 L24;235B3
 
 
R: TGTGAAGTTTGTTAAATGTAAGGAA
 
 
 
S042
BTBD9
F: GATAGGTCTTACGCTGTTAG
155
UniSTS:279369
None
 
 
R: GAATGTACAGAATAGAAGTG
 
 
 
S043
Loc781915
F: AACCTCAAGTGCCTCTCCAG
714
Exon
67D11;70 N21;76E1; 240 K15;240O16
 
 
R: AACAAGTGTAGCCAGCCATC
 
 
 
S044
GL01
F: GATAGGTCTTACGCTGTTAG
155
UniSTS:279369
None
 
 
R: GAATGTACAGAATAGAAGTG
 
 
 
S045
Loc525414
F: GAAGAAGAGGTGATCGGTGTAGAG
216
UniSTS:476833
8 J2;13E21;24 K16; 24 N15;28 L5;112 N3
 
 
R: TTTCTCCTTCCCATACATTTCTGTG
 
 
 
S045b
GLP1R
F: CGAGTGTGAGGATTCCAAGC
418
Exon 4, 5 and intron
80 G15;138P3
 
 
R: GTAGCCCACCGTGTAGATGA
 
 
 
S046
C23H6orf64
F: GTCACAGCCACCATGGAGTC
415
ENSBTAT00000001425: Exon 2
19 F4;80 G15;138P3; 156B12; 336 L24
 
 
R: CGCAAGCTGTTCTCAGTCAA
 
 
 
S047
KCNK5
F: CTCCGACTCTGTGCTGGTGA
774
ENSBTAT00000014756: Exon 5
None
 
 
R: TACCACGCCTTGTACCGCTA
 
 
 
S048
KCNK17
F: AGAGTCCAGGCTCCTTCTAT
493
ENSBTAT00000013646: Exon 5
None
 
 
R: CTGCTATCCTCAGAGTTCCA
 
 
 
S049
Loc100139627
F: GTGGAGGGAACCTGCGGCAC
344
NC_007324.3: designed online
3 L3;51O8;189 L22; 253I5; 270 L14
 
 
R: AGGCCTCGGAAGAGCCCTGG
 
 
 
S050
Loc100138924
F: CTTGGTCTTGCGGGCCCCTG
493
NC_007324.3: designed online
145 G9;146 H11
 
 
R: CCAGGCTCTAGCCCTGCCCA
 
 
 
S051
DAAM2
F: CAGGGAGTGCTCTCAAAGGTAAAGG
307
UniSTS:476834
None
 
 
R: TCCTCCAGCCTGACTTCTCCTTC
 
 
 
S052
MOCS1
F: GGTCCAGGAAGGCTGAAGTG
661
ENSBTAT00000013792: Exon 11
None
 
 
R: GAAGGACGGATGGCTATGGT
 
 
 
S053
LRFN2
F: TTGTCATACACGGCGGTCCT
493
ENSBTAT00000023907: Exon 1
77E2;220 J8;325 J12; 325 J13
 
 
R: AGCTGAGCCTCGACCACAAC
 
 
 
S054
UNC5CL
F: TGACCAACGAGCAGCCACAC
278
UniSTS:476835
None
 
 
R: GCAGCAGGAGGAGCCAGAAG
 
 
 
S055
NFYA
F: GCCGATGAAGAAGCTATGAC
550
ENSBTAT00000013080: Exon 10
76 K24;118P22;136B19
 
 
R: CATGAGATGGAGCTTCCTTG
 
 
 
S056
TREM2
F: ACAACTCCTTGAAGCACTGG
229
ENSBTAT00000009568: Exon 2
86A4;178 L4;208 M19; 282 F4
 
 
R: TGGAGGCTCTGGCACTGGTA
 
 
 
S057
TREM1
F: CATCATTCCTGCAGCATGTG
515
ENSBTAT00000023397: Exon 4
30C8;73 K17;75A11; 75I21
 
 
R: GGCTGTGCCAGGTCTTAGTT
 
 
 
S058
LOC783024
F: CTGAGGACCAAGGCCATGCT
216
Exon
None
 
 
R: TGGTGTGGCACTGCAGGAAG
 
 
 
S059
FOXP4
F: AATTATCGCTCCAAGAGATTCCAC
250
UniSTS:384935
112I1;144 K17;181 F9; 299P14;314 F18
 
 
R: CCCATCCTTGTCTCCTCTTTACAT
 
 
 
S060
MDFI
F: GCTGTGTCCACTGCATCTTG
256
ENSBTAT00000025763: Exon 4
70B14;166C6;181 J11; 202B12; 229A10
 
 
R: GGTCAGGAGGAGAAGCAGAG
 
 
 
S061
PGC
F: GAAATTCTCTGCTAAACCCCTTCA
268
UniSTS:385581
14 G18;24O7;24O10; 103 G9; 139 N14
 
 
R: TCATCTAAGCAGAAACACCAGTAAATG
 
 
 
S062
USP49
F: GATGGAGTTCATGTAGCAGGTGTT
260
UniSTS:385828
None
 
 
R: GGAGCGCAAGAAGGAGGAG
 
 
 
S063
BYSL
F: TCAGAGGACCTGGAAGTGGA
538
ENSBTAT00000013326: Exon 7
3 M12;98 J10;182 F10
 
 
R: CTCTCATGCACAGCAGTGGA
 
 
 
S064
TAF8
F: TGGAGGAAGGAACTTGGTCACAGAG
228
UniSTS:476836
103 M11;133 J10;146 L22
 
 
R: GGTGCTTGAGGTTCGTTGAGTTGAG
 
 
 
S065
MGC137036
F: GAAGCAGGACCGTGAGCAGA
238
ENSBTAT00000017035: Exon 2
100O15;117E7;133 J9; 146 L22;171 L22;176P6
 
 
R: CTACGAGCGCCACAAGACCA
 
 
 
S066
TRERF1
F: GTGTGTCTGTTGCTGCGGTG
643
ENSBTAT00000020376: Exon 1
1O22;17 J12;79 H15; 81 J21;100O15;259 L15
 
 
R: TGGTCTAGGCTTGGCTGTTG
 
 
 
S067
Loc786000
F: TGGCAAGATGGCGGTGCCAG
379
NC_007324.3: designed online
6P21;32P14;142C8; 162E5;195C23;227D22
 
 
R: AGCAGCCTTGGCCCCACTCT
 
 
 
S068
UBR2
F: CTGCAAGCAACTGACCTCAC
169
ENSBTAT00000007833: Exon 2
6P21;129B6;162E5; 163E23;177 M6
 
 
R: CCAACTCAGGATCTTCACCA
 
 
 
S069
PRPH2
F: GTAGTGGACTCCAGGAACTTCG
232
UniSTS:279013
26 J6;26 L8;29 M14; 127A7;134B12;177A2
 
 
R: ACCACAGAGTCACCTGCTGAGA
 
 
 
S070
Loc540169
F: ATGAAAGGGTCAGGCGAAC
130
UniSTS:94727
144A13;164 L3;164 M2;164 M3;172O18;185 N10
 
 
R: ACAGAGCCGCTAACCGTG
 
 
 
S071
CNPY3
F: GAACAGTGGTCTGGCAAGAA
214
ENSBTAT00000021132: Exon 10
98 J16;172O18;185 N10;189O8;289 J21
 
 
R: GTTAGGCTCAGAGCTCGTCA
 
 
 
S072
CUL7
F: TTTCGACCTCGCTCTGAGTT
1,000
UniSTS:270008
74C2;189O8;289 J21; 325 K12
 
 
R: CTCCAGCATGTGCCAGTG
 
 
 
S073
PTK7
F: GACTCAGGAGCCTTCCAGTG
531
UniSTS:268417
54A6;127D14;142 L8; 163O23;204P7
 
 
R: CTGTATTGCAGCTTCCGAGG
 
 
 
S074
Loc540077
F: CTGAATACCTGATCCGATGG
417
Exon
54A6;142 L8;163O23; 204P7
 
 
R: GCATGTGCATGAGTAGGTCC
 
 
 
S075
Loc786439
F: GGCGTCTTTAATCAGGATTTGG
200
UniSTS:222501
None
 
 
R: AATCCAACACTTGAAACCGACA
 
 
 
S076
ZNF318
F: CTGTCTTCACTCGAAGCTCC
438
ENSBTAT00000013481: Exon 1
24 L23;66 G8;83 N5; 119 J9;162 F10
 
 
R: AGCTCCTACTTCGTTCCTCC
 
 
 
S077
TJAP1
F: GAGGACGAGGAAGAGCTGAA
654
ENSBTAT00000035977: Exon 12
None
 
 
R: CGTGCAGAGGATTGAAGGAG
 
 
 
S078
POLH
F: GACAGCCACACACATAAGCA
497
ENSBTAT00000007900: Exon 11
68 F17;71 H18;74P6; 124 L6;250 J4
 
 
R: GTCTCACAGAGTCGGACACG
 
 
 
S079
MRPS18A
F: AGTCGTGAGACCACTGCAGC
191
ENSBTAT00000056429: Exon 6
115P10;176 M14; 233 H10;278 K6;291I13
 
 
R: AGGACCTCCTGAGAGCCTGA
 
 
 
S080
VEGFA
F: GATCATGCGGATCAAACCTCACC
326
UniSTS:471318
12B17;12 H11;30 L7; 63B18;124 J8;249D14
 
 
R: CCTCCGGACCCAAAGTGCTC
 
 
 
S081
MRPL14
F: TCAGAACTGCTCCATTCACG
182
UniSTS:64809
117 J15
 
 
R: CAACAACGTGGTCCTCATTG
 
 
 
S082
SLC29A1
F: GGTGGTCTTTGAGCACGACT
537
UniSTS:207086
None
 
 
R: CCGGAACAGGAAGGAGAAG
 
 
 
S083
AARS2
F: CACTGGAAGCACTGCTGACC
325
ENSBTAT00000018232: Exon 22
None
 
 
R: GCAGCCAGAACAGCCATGTA
 
 
 
S084
CDC5L
F: CCAACTCAGTGGAGGACCAT
750
UniSTS:267825
134E15;147I12
 
 
R: GGCTTTGTTTCTGGATTTGG
 
 
 
S085
SUPT3H
F: CTTCTGCCTGGAACTTGCACTTG
208
UniSTS:476839
23P23;80P15;110 F4;5;6
 
 
R: TGCTTACTGTCTCCCACCTAGATTG
 
 
 
S086
Loc536911
F: TACCAGCCACCGAGACCAA
309
UniSTS:280406
9 G19;9 H22;9I23;24; 59B8
 
 
R: AGAGGCTGTTTGACGCCATAG
 
 
 
S086b
CLIC5(BM1258)
F: GTATGTATTTTTCCCACCCTGC
158
UniSTS:56663
291I15
 
 
R: GAGTCAGACATGACTGAGCCTG
 
 
 
S087
ENPP4
F: GAACCAGCTCACCAATGTGT
595
ENSBTAT00000004547: Exon 2
72 M13;74O6;127 F7; 182 K12;299 N7
 
 
R: TCCTCTGCTTCACCACCTAA
 
 
 
S088
RCAN2
F: TCTTTACTGTCTGAGCCACC
132
UniSTS:69107
None
 
 
R: TACACTCAGAGCTAGTTTGC
 
 
 
S089
CYP39A1
F: AGGTGATGGTGGCAACTATG
200
UniSTS:15671
57E15;181B7;202D23; 213A17;261 M4
 
 
R: CATGTGTCCATAATTTGATTGC
 
 
 
S090
TDRD6
F: GAGTTCTTCCACCTGCCGTC
490
ENSBTAT00000013158: Exon 1
114B7;147E14;190 N9; 329 H12;350E16
 
 
R: ATACCTGAGCCATGCTCTCG
 
 
 
S091
Loc785478
F: TACGCCACCTACACACACAC
439
Exon
65 L20;133 M1;211 N8; 233B22;233O14
 
 
R: GACTGGTAGCTCCTGATCTG
 
 
 
S092
GPR116
F: CACATCCAGTGCTTATTCAT
302
ENSBTAT00000035930: Exon 18
291 M9
 
 
R: TAGACAGAGAAGTTGGCTTG
 
 
 
S093
GPR110
F: AGTGGACAGATACCGGCTGC
452
ENSBTAT00000028795: Exon 10
None
 
 
R: AGGTGTGGCCATGTGATGGA
 
 
 
S094
TNFRSF21
F: CAGAGCAGAAGGCACCAAGT
500
ENSBTAT00000047874: Exon 11
118P16;351 H10
 
 
R: ATTGTCTGCCTCCTTGGTCC
 
 
 
S095
LOC785024
F: GGTTGTCAAGCCACTCGAAT
611
Exon
14B7;79 L8;168 N8; 264 L6
 
 
R: CGGAGTATATGGCCAGTGTT
 
 
 
S096
LOC512926
F: AGAGCAGAAGGCACCAAGTC
437
Exon
27A8;290 J19;351 H10
 
 
R: ACGCTCTGCATCTCATCACA
 
 
 
S097
CD2AP
F: TACCACAACACCAACTGCAT
309
UniSTS:278169
1 H10;14A2;75 J19; 114B12;151 J21;166 L22
 
 
R: TTACCGGGATCACAGAAACA
 
 
 
S098
GPR115
F: CACAGTGGTGGCAGCAATAA
490
ENSBTAT00000003815: Exon 5
None
 
 
R: GAATAGAGTGCAATGCCGGT
 
 
 
S099
OPN5
F: CTACATCTGCCTGGCGGTCA
287
ENSBTAT00000021933: Exon 4
167I8;228 M7
 
 
R: CATGGCTGCTATGGATCCGA
 
 
 
S100
MGC148542
F: ACATTTTCTCCTTCTTTGGCTCC
272
UniSTS:133880
1A19;1B9;140A1; 216D18;319I16
 
 
R: GATAGAGGATGACGACAAATGGC
 
 
 
S101
Loc785693
F: AGCCAGGTAGAGTTCCAATG
518
Exon
17 K13;75E1;76B22; 103 F21
 
 
R: AGTCTCGGCAGTTACCTTGA
 
 
 
S102
MUT
F: AGCAAAGCACATGCCAAAAT
750
UniSTS:279392
74 J7;8;86P12;252B10; 255 G2;266O16;313 L2
 
 
R: TTCCCCAGAAGAAAGACAAC
 
 
 
S103
Loc787783
F: GGAATCATCAACCCAGTGAGAAAGC
269
UniSTS:476844
255 G2;266O16;274D6; 288I23
 
 
R: CACACGGCGGCAGAAAGAGG
 
 
 
S104
RHAG
F: GAATCGATGACCATCCATGC
470
ENSBTAT00000015012: Exon 4,5
53D7;173C22;186 L10; 226 G3;4;226 H7
 
 
R: AGAAGGCTGGAACATGCGTA
 
 
 
S105
Loc100138627
F: AATGAATAGTATCCCCAATACCTGC
150
UniSTS:164033
None
 
 
R: GTCCACAAAACATTCTCCTTTCC
 
 
 
S106
TFAP2D
F: TAAGCTTTCGGAGAAACCCA
1422
UniSTS:482175
5 K4; 139 L18;230 K5
 
 
R: CAGCAGCAAGACTCTCTGGA
 
 
 
S107
TFAP2B
F: TGCATGCTCCCTCCTCTC
120
UniSTS:71657
25D11;25 F24;142E22; 161A23;167 J23;189D14
 
 
R: CCTCGTCCAATTATGGTGCT
 
 
 
S108
Loc100138859
F: GGAGCACCACAGTACGTAAG
561
Exon
None
 
 
R: GAGGTGTGCCTGTATTGCTA
 
 
 
S109
Loc537895
F: TTCTCTCAAATGATGAATATGCTTC
270
UniSTS:251053
56 J7;86O3;87 H23; 277 G10;277 H11
 
 
R: GGACTATTCTATGCATGCCTCTC
 
 
 
S110
IL17A
F: CACTCAGGCTGTATCAATGC
591
ENSBTAT00000002786: Exon 3
13B24;74A7;74E17; 164 H22;164I23
 
 
R: CAGCTGTGTCATGTACTCCA
 
 
 
S111
MCM3
F: TGTCCCGATTTGACCTTCTC
515
UniSTS:268664
69 G8;168E20;223C7; 263 M23;270P6
 
 
R: GTCATCAGGGCTGAAGTTGG
 
 
 
S112
PAQR8
F: TCTATGTCCTGTCCTCCATC
447
ENSBTAT00000035844: Exon 2
102 M1;160 L10
 
 
R: AGAAGAAGTAGGCACTGACC
 
 
 
S113
TRAM2
F: TGTTCTACATCTTCATCGCCA
630
UniSTS:267311
13P23;53 J18;92C23
 
 
R: ACCAGATCACCGAGCTGAGA
 
 
 
S114
TMEM14A
F: CTACCCAAGAAACACTGTCGC
286
ENSBTAT00000006857: Exon 6
2C18;31C1;139B24; 183A23;280 K17
 
 
R: AGAGCATTCTATGAAGCCCG
 
 
 
S115
ICK
F: ACGGACTGGATCGCTAAGTA
627
ENSBTAT00000020711: Exon 14
2C18;76A8;77 G6; 198C12;199 K7
 
 
R: CAGAACAGCACAGCGGTATT
 
 
 
S116
GCM1
F: AGCTGTCCAACTGCCTCCTG
363
ENSBTAT00000010709: Exon 6
141A15;199 K7;230E24; 314I2
 
 
R: TGGGAAGGGGAGAAGTCGTA
 
 
 
S117
ELOVL5
F: CTACAGCCACGAGACAGTTT
182
UniSTS:279336
64 N21;82O21;90C20; 127 J19;163 F13
    R: GGTTTCAATCATTCTTTCAT      

* The bovine oligo primers were designed along the target bovine genomic sequence at an interval of ~80-160 kb between the two neighbor loci, depending on the availability of the DNA sequence that meet the primer selection criteria. A total of 119 pairs of primers were listed here.

BAC library organization and screening

To facilitate large scale PCR screening, all the 190,500 clones of the BAC library were organized into 3-dimensional BAC clone pools of plates, rows, and columns. Random BAC clones from each of 496 permanent 384-well storage plates were duplicated onto a Luria-Bertani (LB) agar plate for overnight growth at 37°C, using a 384-pin Multi-Blot Replicator as tool for BAC clone duplication (V & P Scientific, Inc., San Diego, CA). The overnight E. coli colonies were then harvested and pooled for plate (n = 496), row (n = 16), or column (n = 24). The standard alkaline lyses methodology was adapted for isolation of the pooled BAC plasmid DNA and the resulting DNA was assembled into super plates for routine PCR screening [35]. The first dimension of the BAC clone pool consisted of 496 DNA samples, each representing one of 496 BAC plates (P001-P496). The second and third dimension consisted of 16 and 24 DNA samples, respectively, for the pooled 16 rows (R01-R16) and 24 columns (C01-C24) of the random BAC clones.

To screen the BAC library using each of 119 pairs of comparative oligo primer pairs, the diluted DNA from each well of the super pool plates was used as a DNA template. The individual PCR reaction was adapted in a total of 10 μl reaction volume with 50 μM of dNTPs, 1.5 mM Mg++, 0.2 μM of each primer pair, 1 × PCR buffer, and 0.1 unit of Tag DNA polymerase. The PCR products were resolved by 1.5% agarose gel electrophoresis and the specific PCR fragment band with the expected size indicated a potential positive BAC clone for the gene loci of oligo primers used. The exact location of the target clone in the BAC library was determined by sequential PCRs using the super row and super column DNA as templates, respectively.

DNA fingerprinting and contig assembling

DNA fingerprinting was performed to determine the overlapping relationship among the identified positive BAC clones [12]. DNA from the positive BAC clone was purified from host E. coli by QIAGEN column and subjected for complete restriction enzyme digestion using HindIII. The enzyme digested products were analyzed on 1% TAE agarose gel electrophoresis for recoding of DNA fragment patterns. The fingerprinting images were captured with UVP Labworks System (UVP Inc., Upland, CA) for systematic analysis. Restriction fragment patterns were analyzed to identify overlapping BAC clones, which were then manually assembled into draft contigs based on the modified methods of Marra [36] and Soderlund [37].

BAC-end sequencing

BAC-end sequencing was performed for the selected clones to facilitate verification of the overlapping relationships of the BAC clones. The sequencing was performed on an ABI 3730X DNA analyzer at the core facilities of the Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, the Chinese Academy of Sciences. The oligo nucleotide primers used for the DNA sequencing were Copycontrol pCC1BAC vector-derived sequencing primer T7 (5’-TAATACGACTCACTATAGGG3’), pCC1/pEpiFOS RP-2 (abbr. RP2) (5’-TACGCCAAGCTATTTAGGTGAGA-3’), and pCC1/pEpiFOS RP-1(abbr. RP-1) (5'-CTCGTATGTTGTGTGGAATTGTGAGC-3'). The resulting sequences were analyzed for overlapping, and used as templates for oligo primer design. Based on the sequence data generated by BAC-end sequencing, PCR primers (Additional file 1: Table S1) were designed to amplify the common genetic loci in two overlapped BACs for confirmation. Sequence-Specific PCRs (SP-PCRs) were performed in 20 μl system including approximately 2 ng BAC DNA, 0.5 U Taq DNA polymerase, 0.1 mM dNTPs, 1.5 mM Mg++, 0.25 μM each primer, and 1× PCR buffer. When necessary, the PCR products were verified by cloning the fragments into a TA vector for verifying DNA sequencing.

Assemble of the BAC clone contig

A continuous BAC clone contig was eventually assembled based on the integrated results of DNA fingerprinting, BAC-end sequencing, and sequence specific PCR amplification of the common loci on the overlapping clones. Redundant BAC clones were removed from the assembly based on the necessity and the relative contribution of each overlapping BACs on the contig. Gaps in the contig were closed by the repeated cycles of PCR screening of BAC clones, DNA fingerprinting of additional BAC clones identified, BAC-end sequencing, and SP-PCR verification. Additional effort was made to link the existing BAC clone contig to the physical map constructed previously, for a complete physical map covering the entire ovine MHC including the autosome insertion between class IIa and IIb.

For comparison of the MHC structure and organization between sheep and other mammals, multiple comparisons were performed for the representative MHC and extended DNA sequences from human, chimpanzees, mouse, cattle, and sheep. Sequence data were downloaded from the NCBI database and other related public websites designated for the sheep genomic information.

Results

Target BAC identification

We successfully identified a total of 368 positive BAC clones for ovine chromosome 20 between MHC class IIa and IIb, utilizing bovine primers designed from the consensus genome region (Table1). Out of 119 pairs of oligo primers designed, 92 pairs worked effectively to generate specific target gene fragments of the expected sizes. This approach resulted in the successful identification of positive ovine BAC clones in the target genome region, and the overall efficiency of comparative PCR reached 80%. The relatively high rate of success for the comparative SP-PCR not only facilitated our mapping efforts, but also helped to confirm the homologous nature of MHC regions between bovine and ovine species.

Organization of ~190,500 random ovine BAC clones into three dimensional super DNA pool of rows (n = 16), columns (n = 24), and plates (n = 496) significantly increased the efficiency of PCR screening of the sheep BAC library (Figure1). The whole BAC library of 8.4× genome equivalents was screened through with a maximum of 536 (=496 + 16 + 24) PCR reactions, and a positive BAC clone could be frequently identified by as few as 136 (=96 + 16 + 24) PCR reactions using the super pool DNA as templates. In addition, PCR-based BAC clone screening also helped to eliminate the need for hybridization-based screening using radioactive 32P labeling.

Figure 1.

Figure 1

Representative gel images on initial PCR screening of an ovine BAC library using comparative primers from the bovine sequences. Approximately 190,500 random BAC clones were organized into pooled super DNA plates of rows, columns, and plates to facilitate PCR screening. Location of a target positive BAC clone in the library was determined usually by two runs of PCRs, one for “plate” and the other for “row + column”. The procedure eliminated the need for hybridization-based screening with radioactive 32P labeling. Gel images of PCR screen band on (A): Row pool of P098 BAC plate using the primer pair S036; (B): Row pool of P056 BAC plate using the primer pair S109; (C): Row N of P083 BAC plate; (D): Row F of P162 BAC plate. M: DL2000. Sample: PCR Products. A ~ P: Number of Row. 1 ~ 16: Number of Column (only partial shown here). P: Positive control (The amplified PCR products using the sheep genome DNA as templates).

DNA fingerprinting and BAC-end sequencing

The initial order of the positive BAC clones identified was successfully determined by inferring the overlapping relationships among the clones via DNA fingerprinting, using HindIII for restriction enzyme digestion of the BAC clone DNAs (Figure2). Out of 368 positive BAC clones subjected for the DNA fingerprinting, 185 clones with their overlapping relationships were successfully determined. The resulting BAC contig covered the entire autosome insertion region between the MHC class IIa and IIb. After removing the redundant clones, a total of 108 effective BACs were ordered to form an overlapping BAC contig (Additional file 1: Table S1).

Figure 2.

Figure 2

A representative image of DNA fingerprints of the positive BAC clones for determination of overlapping relationship. The positive BAC clones identified in the previous steps were digested with Hind III, followed by separation on a 1% agarose gel in 1× TAE buffer. The gel was stained with Ethidium Bromide (EB) for photograph with a UVP Labworks system. M: Marker of DNA size standard (1 kb plus DNA ladder from Invitrogen, San Diego, CA, USA) with the base pair (bp) sizes indicated on both sides.

For cross-checking of the clone order, BAC-end sequencing was performed for all overlapping BAC clones, and the sequences generated were used to design BAC-end oligo primers (Additional file 1: Table S1) for further verification of overlapping relationships. The sequences of 185 BAC-ends have been deposited into the NCBI database with the access number HR309252 through HR309068, corresponding to dbGSS ID 30164010 through 30163826.

Cross verification and physical map assembling

For additional cross-verification of the BAC clone orders, a total of 108 pairs of BAC-end oligo primers were designed for amplification by PCR of the common loci in two overlapping BACs (Figure3). Verification PCR confirmed the results of DNA fingerprinting at a high level of accuracy. Out of the 108 primer pairs used, 103 produced the specific PCR products with the expected size, the overall success rate reached 95% (Additional file 1: Table S1). An overlapping relationship between two BACs was further verified if the common target loci were detected from both BACs in the overlapped region. A total of five pairs of oligo primers failed to generate the specific PCR band, or failed to produce the PCR fragment at the expected size.

Figure 3.

Figure 3

PCR verification of the overlapping relationship between pairs of overlapping BAC clones. Pairs of overlapped BAC clones were PCR amplified using a primer pair designed based on the BAC-end sequence. The markers above the black lines define the primer pairs and the ones below the lines are numbers of positive clones used as PCR templates.

A complete physical map of a BAC clone contig for the ovine MHC region between class IIa and IIb was successfully assembled (Figure4), based on the integrated results of DNA fingerprinting, BAC-end sequencing, and confirmation PCR of the BAC ends. The fully assembled physical map was composed of 108 effective ovine BAC clones organized into a continuous contig that covered the entire region between ovine MHC class IIa and IIb (Figure4). Based on the results of DNA fingerprinting, no gaps exist in the constructed BAC clone physical map which spans approximately 14 Mb genome region of ovine chromosome 20, indicating the even distribution of BAC clones in the library we previously constructed.

Figure 4.

Figure 4

A 14 Mb BAC clone physical map covering the entire region between ovine MHC Class IIa and IIb. The order and orientation of BAC clones (overlapping horizontal bars with clone ID name listed above) were determined by combinations of DNA fingerprinting, BAC-end sequencing, and sequence-specific-PCR. Target gene identified by BAC-end sequencing is marked with a vertical bar along the horizontal line, with locus name listed above. The continuous BAC map is represented by three panels with the overlapping regions marked with the same colored shadows at the both ends.

Discussion

Using the comparative approaches, we successfully constructed a 14 Mb BAC clone contig map for a region in ovine chromosome 20 that harbors the MHC. Comparison between the identified ovine BAC contig and the orthologous bovine genomic region showed that the two species share essentially the same genomic structure and organization for the entire inversion/insertion between MHC class IIa and IIb (Figure5). For the available genetic loci generated via the SP-PCR and BAC-end sequencing, our results essentially confirmed the sheep genome sequence assembly presented by ISGC in the MHC region [33].

Figure 5.

Figure 5

Schematic presentation of MHC structures among representative mammal species. Bovine and ovine MHC is interrupted by a long piece of non-MHC insertion that divided class II into IIa and IIb subregions. The red, blue, and green color stands for MHC Class I, Class III, and Class II, respectively. The grey color gradient represents the extended Class II region. The order of loci in the extended Class II region of bovine and ovine is in an opposite orientation compared to that of human, chimpanzees, and mouse. Dash line marks the break point of a hypothetical chromosome inversion. Dashed circles indicate the hypothetical chromosome looping and the subsequent crossover occurred during the evolution of ruminants. The drawing is not to the scale.

The physical map of ovine BAC contig we constructed helped to provide additional evidence to support the hypothesis that, there was an ancient chromosome rearrangement in the ancestor of ruminants which shaped the MHC structures currently observed in the ovine and bovine (Figure5). It is obvious that the MHC region in human, mouse and chimpanzees is continuous with no interruption, but in bovine and ovine it is interrupted by a large piece of autosome insertion which divided MHC class II into IIa and IIb subregions (Figure5). Given the fact of opposite loci order and orientation for the insertion region in ovine and bovine relative to those of human and mouse, it is highly possible that an event of genetic recombination occurred to the ancestor chromosome of ruminants, probably via chromosome looping and the subsequent crossover. This possibility was suggested by researchers previously [29,38].

Examination of the bovine DNA sequence from the public database showed that the total length of bovine MHC is ~20 Mb, including the extended Class IIb region [34]. However, the total length of the orthologous ovine MHC was ~14.3 Mb as determined in this study, which is approximately 5.7 Mb shorter than the MHC of bovine. On the other hand, the sequence of the same bovine region presented in the NCBI database is ~18 Mb in length (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/projects/mapview/maps.cgi?taxid=9913&chr=23). These discrepancies may not likely be resolved unless highly accurate sequence maps for the entire MHC regions become available.

The reliability of the ovine BAC contig map reported here is sufficiently high in theory, partially due to the fact that the DNA fingerprinting was utilized to infer the BAC clone orders, plus the results were cross-verified by both of the BAC-end sequencing and SP-PCR amplification of the target loci. However, it is not escaped from our attention that there are 5 out of the 108 overlapping locations in the BAC map where the SP-PCR failed to generate the expected PCR products between the overlapping BAC clones (data not shown). The significance of such failure in relation to the overall quality of the map remains to be determined. The possible explanations include the error in SP-PCR primer sequences, the high level of heterogeneity or polymorphism of the target locus involved, or the mistake in the interpretation of results of DNA fingerprinting.

Combined with our previous BAC physical map for the ovine MHC, we have now assembled a completed BAC clone physical map with the inversion/insertion region included (Additional file 2: Figure S1). The physical map will help to generate an ovine MHC sequencing map with a high level of accuracy, which in turn will facilitate MHC functional studies and comparative MHC evolution studies in ruminants. DNA sequencing of the BACs is currently underway.

Conclusion

We constructed a high-density physical map for the sheep genome region between MHC class IIa and IIb via comparative approaches. A total of 108 effective ovine BAC clones were selected to form a continuous BAC contig that covers the entire non-MHC insertion. The map spans approximately 14 Mb in length, constituting ~25% of ovine chromosome 20. The entire ovine MHC region, including the autosome insertion for which the physical map has been constructed, is now fully covered by a continuous BAC clone contig. The accuracy of DNA sequences play vital roles in detailed SNP and other functional studies of MHC genes, as well as for genome evolution studies. The physical map will help to generate ovine MHC sequencing map with a high level of accuracy, which in turn will facilitate MHC functional studies, as well as the comparative MHC evolution in ruminants.

Misc

Gang Li and Ka Liu contributed equally.

Competing interests

Authors declare no conflict of interests.

Authors’ contributions

GL carried out BAC library organization and SP-PCR screening. KL carried out DNA fingerprinting and contig assembling. SJ and GL performed oligo primer design and BAC-end sequencing. HL constructed the sheep BAC library. HB carried out data analysis. XC carried out certain verification experiments. PT and PZ carried out data cross checking. RM and JG supervised the studies and wrote the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final version of the manuscript.

Supplementary Material

Additional file 1

Table S1. The ovine oligo primers used for verification of overlapping relationships of the positive BAC clones.

Click here for file (167KB, doc)
Additional file 2

Figure S1. A complete physical map of entire ovine MHC with the insertion region between class IIa and IIb included. Order and orientation of overlapping BAC clones were jointly determined by combinations of DNA fingerprinting, BAC-end sequencing, and sequence-specific PCR. Genes identified by BAC-end sequencing are marked with erect black lines, with their names listed above. A horizontal bar stands for individual BAC with its identification marked above. Red, purple and green color represent the MHC class I, class III, and class II, representatively.

Click here for file (85.5KB, doc)

Contributor Information

Gang Li, Email: ligangligangsbj@yahoo.com.cn.

Ka Liu, Email: karlerlew@gmail.com.

Shasha Jiao, Email: shashajiao@genetics.ac.cn.

Haibo Liu, Email: haibo.liu@umassmed.edu.

Hugh T Blair, Email: h.blair@massey.ac.nz.

Peng Zhang, Email: pengzhang@genetics.ac.cn.

Xiaoran Cui, Email: xrcui@genetics.ac.cn.

Pingping Tan, Email: pptan@genetics.ac.cn.

Jianfeng Gao, Email: jianfengg@shzu.edu.cn.

Runlin Z Ma, Email: rlma@genetics.ac.cn.

Acknowledgements

The authors are very appreciative of the expert reviewers who helped to improve the quality of the manuscript significantly. This work was funded by research grants from National Natural Science Foundation of China (30125024; 30771148), Ministry of Science and Technology of China (2006DFB33750; 2010CB530204), and China Ministry of Agriculture (2009ZX08008-005B).

References

  1. Nei M, Rooney AP. Concerted and birth-and-death evolution of multigene families. Annu Rev Genet. 2005;39:121–152. doi: 10.1146/annurev.genet.39.073003.112240. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Spurgin LG, Richardson DS. How pathogens drive genetic diversity: MHC, mechanisms and misunderstandings. Proc Biol Sci. 2010;277(1684):979–988. doi: 10.1098/rspb.2009.2084. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Trowsdale J. The MHC, disease and selection. Immunol Lett. 2011;137(1–2):1–8. doi: 10.1016/j.imlet.2011.01.002. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Bonneaud C, Richard M, Faivre B, Westerdahl H, Sorci G. An Mhc class I allele associated to the expression of T-dependent immune response in the house sparrow. Immunogenetics. 2005;57(10):782–789. doi: 10.1007/s00251-005-0046-5. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Dukkipati VS, Blair HT, Garrick DJ, Murray A. Ovar-Mhc–ovine major histocompatibility complex: role in genetic resistance to diseases. N Z Vet J. 2006;54(4):153–160. doi: 10.1080/00480169.2006.36689. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Galindo RC, Ayoubi P, Garcia-Perez AL, Naranjo V, Kocan KM, Gortazar C, de la Fuente J. Differential expression of inflammatory and immune response genes in sheep infected with Anaplasma phagocytophilum. Vet Immunol Immunopathol. 2008;126(1–2):27–34. doi: 10.1016/j.vetimm.2008.06.004. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Konnai S, Takeshima SN, Tajima S, Yin SA, Okada K, Onuma M, Aida Y. The influence of ovine MHC class II DRB1 alleles on immune response in bovine leukemia virus infection. Microbiol Immunol. 2003;47(3):223–232. doi: 10.1111/j.1348-0421.2003.tb03391.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Mena A, Nichani AK, Popowych Y, Ioannou XP, Godson DL, Mutwiri GK, Hecker R, Babiuk LA, Griebel P. Bovine and ovine blood mononuclear leukocytes differ markedly in innate immune responses induced by Class A and Class B CpG-oligodeoxynucleotide. Oligonucleotides. 2003;13(4):245–259. doi: 10.1089/154545703322460621. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Buitkamp J, Filmether P, Stear MJ, Epplen JT. Class I and class II major histocompatibility complex alleles are associated with faecal egg counts following natural, predominantly Ostertagia circumcincta infection. Parasitol Res. 1996;82(8):693–696. doi: 10.1007/s004360050187. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Dukkipati VS, Blair HT, Garrick DJ, Murray A. 'Ovar-Mhc' - ovine major histocompatibility complex: structure and gene polymorphisms. Genet Mol Res. 2006;5(4):581–608. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Gruszczynska J, Brokowska K, Charon KM, Swiderek WP. Restriction fragment length polymorphism of exon 2 Ovar-DRB1 gene in Polish Heath Sheep and Polish Lowland Sheep. J Appl Genet. 2005;46(3):311–314. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Liu H, Liu K, Wang J, Ma RZ. A BAC clone-based physical map of ovine major histocompatibility complex. Genomics. 2006;88(1):88–95. doi: 10.1016/j.ygeno.2006.02.006. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Liu K, Zhang P, Gao J, Liu H, Li G, Qiu Z, Zhang Y, Ren J, Tan P, Ma RZ. Closing a gap in the physical map of the ovine major histocompatibility complex. Anim Genet. 2011;42(2):204–207. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2052.2010.02083.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Gao J, Liu K, Liu H, Blair HT, Li G, Chen C, Tan P, Ma RZ. A complete DNA sequence map of the ovine major histocompatibility complex. BMC Genomics. 2010;11:466. doi: 10.1186/1471-2164-11-466. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Miltiadou D, Ballingall KT, Ellis SA, Russell GC, McKeever DJ. Haplotype characterization of transcribed ovine major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I genes. Immunogenetics. 2005;57(7):499–509. doi: 10.1007/s00251-005-0008-y. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Mahdy EA, Makinen A, Chowdhary BP, Andersson L, Gustavsson I. Chromosomal localization of the ovine major histocompatibility complex (OLA) by in situ hybridization. Hereditas. 1989;111(1):87–90. doi: 10.1111/j.1601-5223.1989.tb00381.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Escayg AP, Hickford JG, Bullock DW. Association between alleles of the ovine major histocompatibility complex and resistance to footrot. Res Vet Sci. 1997;63(3):283–287. doi: 10.1016/S0034-5288(97)90035-7. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Ballingall KT, Fardoe K, McKeever DJ. Genomic organisation and allelic diversity within coding and non-coding regions of the Ovar-DRB1 locus. Immunogenetics. 2008;60(2):95–103. doi: 10.1007/s00251-008-0278-2. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Deverson EV, Wright H, Watson S, Ballingall K, Huskisson N, Diamond AG, Howard JC. Class II major histocompatibility complex genes of the sheep. Anim Genet. 1991;22(3):211–225. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2052.1991.tb00671.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. Escayg AP, Hickford JG, Montgomery GW, Dodds KG, Bullock DW. Polymorphism at the ovine major histocompatibility complex class II loci. Anim Genet. 1996;27(5):305–312. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2052.1996.tb00974.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. Scott PC, Choi CL, Brandon MR. Genetic organization of the ovine MHC class II region. Immunogenetics. 1987;25(2):116–122. doi: 10.1007/BF00364277. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. Snibson KJ, Maddox JF, Fabb SA, Brandon MR. Allelic variation of ovine MHC class II DQA1 and DQA2 genes. Anim Genet. 1998;29(5):356–362. doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2052.1998.295351.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  23. van der Poel JJ, Groenen MA, Dijkhof RJ, Ruyter D, Giphart MJ. The nucleotide sequence of the bovine MHC class II alpha genes: DRA, DOA, and DYA. Immunogenetics. 1990;31(1):29–36. doi: 10.1007/BF00702486. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  24. Childers CP, Newkirk HL, Honeycutt DA, Ramlachan N, Muzney DM, Sodergren E, Gibbs RA, Weinstock GM, Womack JE, Skow LC. Comparative analysis of the bovine MHC class IIb sequence identifies inversion breakpoints and three unexpected genes. Anim Genet. 2006;37(2):121–129. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2052.2005.01395.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  25. Devilee P, Warnaar JN, Giphart MJ. MHC homology between various mammalian species at the DNA level: its relevance to MHC evolution. Exp Clin Immunogenet. 1984;1(2):90–98. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  26. Qin J, Mamotte C, Cockett NE, Wetherall JD, Groth DM. A map of the class III region of the sheep major histocompatibilty complex. BMC Genomics. 2008;9:409. doi: 10.1186/1471-2164-9-409. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  27. Wright H, Ballingall KT, Redmond J. The DY sub-region of the sheep MHC contains an A/B gene pair. Immunogenetics. 1994;40(3):230–234. doi: 10.1007/BF00167084. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  28. Hickford JG, Ridgway HJ, Escayg AP. Evolution of the ovine MHC DQA region. Anim Genet. 2000;31(3):200–205. doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2052.2000.00635.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  29. Amills M, Ramiya V, Norimine J, Lewin HA. The major histocompatibility complex of ruminants. Rev Sci Tech. 1998;17(1):108–120. doi: 10.20506/rst.17.1.1092. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  30. Everts-van Der Wind A, Kata SR, Band MR, Rebeiz M, Larkin DM, Everts RE, Green CA, Liu L, Natarajan S, Goldammer T. et al. A 1463 gene cattle-human comparative map with anchor points defined by human genome sequence coordinates. Genome Res. 2004;14(7)):1424–1437. doi: 10.1101/gr.2554404. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  31. Maddox JF, Davies KP, Crawford AM, Hulme DJ, Vaiman D, Cribiu EP, Freking BA, Beh KJ, Cockett NE, Kang N. et al. An enhanced linkage map of the sheep genome comprising more than 1000 loci. Genome Res. 2001;11(7):1275–1289. doi: 10.1101/gr.GR-1350R. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  32. McShane RD, Gallagher DS Jr, Newkirk H, Taylor JF, Burzlaff JD, Davis SK, Skow LC. Physical localization and order of genes in the class I region of the bovine MHC. Anim Genet. 2001;32(5):235–239. doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2052.2001.00758.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  33. Archibald AL, Cockett NE, Dalrymple BP, Faraut T, Kijas JW, Maddox JF, McEwan JC, Hutton Oddy V, Raadsma HW, Wade C. et al. The sheep genome reference sequence: a work in progress. Anim Genet. 2010;41(5):449–453. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2052.2010.02100.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  34. Elsik CG, Tellam RL, Worley KC, Gibbs RA, Muzny DM, Weinstock GM, Adelson DL, Eichler EE, Elnitski L, Guigo R. et al. The genome sequence of taurine cattle: a window to ruminant biology and evolution. Science. 2009;324(5926):522–528. doi: 10.1126/science.1169588. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  35. Osoegawa K, Woon PY, Zhao B, Frengen E, Tateno M, Catanese JJ, de Jong PJ. An improved approach for construction of bacterial artificial chromosome libraries. Genomics. 1998;52(1):1–8. doi: 10.1006/geno.1998.5423. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  36. Marra MA, Kucaba TA, Dietrich NL, Green ED, Brownstein B, Wilson RK, McDonald KM, Hillier LW, McPherson JD, Waterston RH. High throughput fingerprint analysis of large-insert clones. Genome Res. 1997;7(11):1072–1084. doi: 10.1101/gr.7.11.1072. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  37. Soderlund C, Longden I, Mott R. FPC: a system for building contigs from restriction fingerprinted clones. Comput Appl Biosci. 1997;13(5):523–535. doi: 10.1093/bioinformatics/13.5.523. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  38. Lewin HA, Russell GC, Glass EJ. Comparative organization and function of the major histocompatibility complex of domesticated cattle. Immunol Rev. 1999;167:145–158. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-065X.1999.tb01388.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Associated Data

This section collects any data citations, data availability statements, or supplementary materials included in this article.

Supplementary Materials

Additional file 1

Table S1. The ovine oligo primers used for verification of overlapping relationships of the positive BAC clones.

Click here for file (167KB, doc)
Additional file 2

Figure S1. A complete physical map of entire ovine MHC with the insertion region between class IIa and IIb included. Order and orientation of overlapping BAC clones were jointly determined by combinations of DNA fingerprinting, BAC-end sequencing, and sequence-specific PCR. Genes identified by BAC-end sequencing are marked with erect black lines, with their names listed above. A horizontal bar stands for individual BAC with its identification marked above. Red, purple and green color represent the MHC class I, class III, and class II, representatively.

Click here for file (85.5KB, doc)

Articles from BMC Genomics are provided here courtesy of BMC

RESOURCES