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Figure 3 | BMC Immunology

Figure 3

From: Characterisation of RT1-E2, a multigenic family of highly conserved rat non-classical MHC class I molecules initially identified in cells from immunoprivileged sites

Figure 3

Phylogenetic comparison of RT1-E2 protein sequences. Phylogenetic trees were obtained by quartet puzzling [70], based on the alignment of protein sequences shown on Fig. 2. Because they are subjected to different selective pressures, the upstream and downstream regions of MHC class I molecules evolve differently, and at different rates. We therefore compared the sequences separately. The left-hand side tree is based on comparing residues 181–356 corresponding to the α3 domain and the transmembrane and intracytoplasmic regions. Because of their high level of divergence after residue 275, the mouse and human sequences were not included in this comparison. The right-hand side tree is based on comparing residues 1–180, corresponding to the α1/α2 co-domain that forms the antigen binding groove.

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BMC Immunology

ISSN: 1471-2172

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