Phylogenetic positions of RH blood group-related genes in cyclostomes

• We determined three genes of the RH gene family in lamprey.
• RHCG-like1 and RHCG-like2 genes were probably duplicated in the lamprey lineage.
• These two RHCG-like genes in lamprey formed a cluster with gnathostome RHCG.
• A clear result for the phylogenetic position of RHBG-like gene was not obtained.

The RH gene family in vertebrates consists of four major genes (RH, RHAG, RHBG, and RHCG). They are thought to have emerged in the common ancestor of vertebrates after two rounds of whole genome duplication (2R-WGD). To analyze the detailed phylogenetic relationships within the RH gene family, we determined three types of cDNA sequence that belong to the RH gene family in lamprey (Lethenteron reissneri) and designated them as RHBG-like, RHCG-like1, and RHCG-like2. Phylogenetic analyses clearly showed that RHCG-like1 and RHCG-like2 genes, which were probably duplicated in the lamprey lineage, are orthologs of gnathostome RHCG. In contrast, the clear phylogenetic position of the RHBG-like gene could not be obtained. Probably some convergent events for cyclostome RHBG-like genes prevented the accurate identification of their phylogenetic positions.