COMPARATIVE-ANALYSIS OF POLYMORPHISM FOR DQB AND DRB DNA LOCI OF THE MAJOR HISTOCOMPATIBILITY COMPLEX IN REPRESENTATIVES OF FAMILY BOVIDAE

Using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) followed by restriction analysis , the polymorphism of major histocompatibility complex (MHC, BoLA) cla ss II DRB and DQB genes was studied in Belovezh, Caucasian-Belovezh, a nd mountain European bisons, European bison-bison hybrids, and bisons, as well as in some cattle breeds. An analysis of fragments of the sec ond exon of DRB gene and the regulatory region of DQB gene in the samp les studied revealed a number of polymorphic genotypic variants in rep resentatives of cattle. European bisons have a narrower spectrum of po lymorphic variants, and some variants unique for this population are d escribed. A comparative genetic analysis of the groups mentioned above , with respect to the polymorphism of histocompatibility (DQB, DRB) an d kappa-casein genes, revealed the similarity of Belovezh and Caucasia n-Belovezh European bison lines. Measures am proposed to protect and s upport the genetic diversity of European bisons.