Dissection of serological and cytolytic T lymphocyte epitopes on murine major histocompatibility antigens by a recombinant H-2 gene separating the first two external domains.

Abstract

An novel H-2 gene in which the 1st external (N) domain of the H-2Ld antigen was replaced with that of the H-2Dd antigen was constructed and introduced into L [mouse neoplastic fibroblast] cells. A transformant expressing the products of the hybrid gene was studied for binding to monoclonal antibodies specific for H-2Ld and H-2Dd antigens. Serological determinants are distributed both in the N (Dd) and C1 (Ld) domains. Determinants recognized by allospecific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) and virus-specific CTL also mapped to the N and C1 domains. Determinants recognized by vesicular stomatitis virus-specific effect cells were not present on the recombinant molecule. A recombinant gene of 2 H-2 antigens in which the 1st external domain has been reshuffled can express a functional H-2 antigen that can then be used to map serological and CTL determinants to specific domains.