Hae III-PCR-RFLP Based typing of major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-DQB Locus in Indian Mithun (Bos frontalis)

Mithun (Bos frontalis, Bofr), a rare bovine has significant importance in local people of North East India. We studied allelic diversity at MHC class II DQB locus by Polymerase Chain Reaction-Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method using HaeIII restriction enzyme in mithun. A 289 nucleotides long genomic region encompassing hyper-variable exon 2 of Bofr-DQB gene was amplified in 79 mithuns. The amplified PCR products were digested with HaeIIIenzyme, which revealed a total of 6 restriction patterns. Among these, the ABC pattern present in an individual mithun population was found to possess three HaeIIIDQB alleles that indicated the duplication of DQB locus in mithun. The study reveals the polymorphism and duplication of DQB in Mithun that may have an importance for creating diversified MHC class II molecules for recognition of different antigens.