DNA Sequence and Characterization of Human Class II Major Histocompatibility Complex β Chains from the DR1 Haplotype

• Published in: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences - PNAS Vol. 82; no. 10; pp. 3405 - 3409
• Main Authors: Bell, John I., Estess, Pila, St. John, Thomas, Saiki, Randall, Watling, David L., Erlich, Henry A., McDevitt, Hugh O.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 01-05-1985; National Acad Sciences
• Subjects: Animals; Base Sequence; Biological and medical sciences; Cell lines; Complementary DNA; DNA - genetics; DNA probes; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Fundamental immunology; Gels; Genes; Genetics of the immune response; Gin; Haplotypes; Histocompatibility Antigens Class II - genetics; HLA-DR Antigens; Immunobiology; Immunoprecipitation; Isoelectric Point; Major Histocompatibility Complex; Messenger RNA; Molecular Weight; Nucleic acids; Oocytes; Oocytes - physiology; Xenopus laevis - physiology; Antigen; Characterization; Human; Histocompatibility system; Complementary DNA; HLA-DR-System; Beta-Peptide chain; Primary structure; Haplotype
• ISSN: 0027-8424; 1091-6490
• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.82.10.3405

Two HLA class II β -chain clones from a cell line homozygous for the DR1 haplotype have been characterized and sequenced. They represent a DRβ chain (2918.4) and a DQβ chain (2918.8). Clone 2918.4 has been used to select mRNA from a lymphoblastoid cell line, and this was injected into Xenopus oocytes with mRNA selected with a DRα chain. The translation products were immunoprecipitated with a β -chain-specific monoclonal antibody and electrophoresed on two-dimensional gels. This revealed positive signals in the positions predicted for β and α chains. Sequence comparisons of 2918.4 with previously published DRβ -chain sequences confirm the presence of two regions of variability in the membrane distal domain. Analysis of the sequence of 2918.8 identified it as a DQβ chain identical to one previously published from a DR3,w6 cell line. We speculate, therefore, that the DQβ sequence represents the DQ1 specificity shared by the DR1 and DRw6 haplotypes.