Sequence Variation of the SLA-1 Gene for Korean Native Pigs

The SLA-1 gene in MHC classical region was cloned using spleen tissues for Korean native pigs (KNP). Segments containing approximate 1,530 nucleotides of the swine SLA-1 gene were completely sequenced, and a total of 288 SNPs in SLA-1 cDNA were observed. The primer sequences were selected based on the swine sequences (GenBank accession Numbers AY247766) to amplify the SLA-1 gene. The identified mRNA sequences in this analysis have not been closely aligned to the previously reported SLA-1 alleles of KNP (SLA-1*w12jh01, SLA-1*w12jh02, SLA-1*kn01, SLA-1*kn02, and SLA-1*kn03). Interesting characteristics found in KNP for common three nucleotide variations instead of other nucleotides at positions 121 (T, C, and A), 313 (T, A, and C), 427 (G, C, and A), 1,192 (A, C, and G) and 1,450 (G, T, and A). Comparative sequence analysis revealed unique 9 SNPs in ENP (at positions 110:A/G, 119:T/C, 127:T/C, 465:C / A or G, 535:T/G, 536:T/G, 539:T/G, 542:A/G, 732:C/A, and 884:T/C). The 10 bp deletion (1,269-1,278) in 3' UTR, which is commonly observed in known SLA-1 alleles, was not detected in KNP. The present results open the way for a better understanding of KNP MHC organization and provide useful genetic information for future researches of SLA genotyping.