Alternative splicing in the 5′ moiety of the H-2Kd gene transcript.

Abstract
The H‐2Kd gene, which encodes a mouse major transplantation antigen, was transfected into L TK‐ mouse fibroblasts. Two transcripts of the gene were detected by S1 nuclease mapping analysis. They correspond to two previously characterized cDNA clones isolated from DBA/2 mouse liver RNA, leading to the conclusion that the H‐2Kd gene gives rise to two distinct transcripts through an alternate use of splicing sites. The non‐canonical RNA potentially encodes a so far undescribed H‐2Kd‐like molecule. It is present in all tissues tested (liver, spleen, thymus, kidney) albeit in lower amounts (approximately 10‐fold less) than the canonical RNA coding for H‐2Kd.