Multiple sequences related to classical histocompatibility antigens in the mouse genome
Cami, B.; Brégégère, F.; Abastado, J.P.; Kourilsky, P.
Nature 291(5817): 673-675
1981
ISSN/ISBN: 0028-0836 PMID: 6264319 Document Number: 172537
A series of genes on the 17th chromosome of the mouse, called the major histocompatibility complex, has critical roles in the immune response. The classical transplantation antigens (or H-2 antigens) are encoded by genes located in several loci of this complex, H-2K, H-2D and H-2L. The antigens are cell-surface glycoproteins consisting of a single polypeptide chain of .apprx. 350 amino acids, noncovalently associated to a shorter polypeptide chain, .beta.2-microglobulin, not encoded by the 17th chromosome. Within a given H-2 haplotype, H-2K, -D or -L antigens differ by discrete antigenic sites, probably due to changes in their amino acid sequences. As many as 50 alleles were found for each K and D locus in the laboratory mouse; H-2 loci are very polymorphic. The structure of H-2 genes were studied in which the number of H-2-related sequences in the mouse genome was estimated from the number of DNA fragments able to hybridize specifically with a complementary DNA carrying an H-2 sequence.