Evolution of the O alleles of the human ABO blood group gene

BACKGROUND: To date, at least 40 different alleles O have been characterized on the basis of exon 6 and exon 7 sequences but not always for intron 6. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Among 415 individuals, from four continents (Africa, Europe, South America, and Asia), studied for exon 6 and exon 7 sequences, we selected 46 individuals (of respective phenotypes O [39], AB [3], B [3], or A [1]) for sequencing 1800-bp amplicons spanning exon 6, intron 6, and exon 7. The amplicons were characterized either by direct sequencing or after cloning when required. RESULTS: We defined 14 new intron 6 O allele sequences, including four recombinant alleles. Based on sequence comparison, a phylogenetic network was constructed. It confirmed recombinant allele origins and that most O alleles are derived by point mutations from the two worldwide distributed alleles O01 and O02. CONCLUSION: Allele O phylogenetic analysis suggests that the most frequent silencing mutation (deletion of a G in exon 6) appeared once in human evolution in the ancient O02 allele lineage and that allele O01 resulted from an interallele exchange between O02 and A 101. Assuming constancy of evolutionary rate, diversification of the representative alleles of the three human ABO lineages (A 101, B101, and O02) was estimated at 4.5 to 6 million years ago.