Widespread transcription of a Qa region gene in adult mice.

Abstract

The mouse MHC class I family includes genes encoded in four regions: H-2K, H-2D, Qa and Tla. While K/D genes are well characterized, relatively little is known about Qa or Tla genes. We have studied the transcription of a B10.P Qa region gene. DNA sequence comparisons of the transmembrane region, supported by Southern blot analysis of cosmid and genomic DNAs from BALB/c and C57BL/10, demonstrate the .lambda.3a gene corresponds to Q4P. In both Northern blots and RNA protection experiments using probes derived from the 3'' non-coding region, we found that Q4, like the H-2K and H-2D genes, is widely transcribed in B10.P tissues. These data demonstrate for the first time wide-spread transcription of a Qa gene.