Abstract
The major histocompatibility complex of the rat (RTI) contains genes that code for two class II histocompatibility antigens. The r12 rat strain (WRC) was derived from a mating which revealed a genetic recombination that defines the two loci, RTI.B and RT1.D, that code for the class II antigens. The RT1.B and RT1.D antigens of the RT1 complex are protein dimers consisting of an alpha and beta glycoprotein chain and are homologous to I-A and I-E genes, respectively, in the H-2 complex of the mouse. We have performed Southern blot analysis on liver DNA from the r12 and parental strains to examine the precise location of the recombinant event. After digestion with restriction enzymes, the DNA was separated on agarose gels, blotted onto nitrocellulose, and hybridized with mouse H-2 cDNA probes specific for I-A alpha and beta genes. The pattern of restriction fragment polymorphisms demonstrated that the site of recombination is between the RT1.B alpha and the RTI.B beta genes. As a result of these findings, we suggest that the sequence of genes within the RTI complex consists of RT1.A ... RT1.Bβ ... RT1.Bα ... RT1.D(α, β) ... Other class I genes, possibly corresponding to mouse Qa and Tla-like genes, were also apparent in these experiments.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Allen, P. M., Gutman, D. H., Sher, M. R., and Niedehuber, J. E.: Characterization of three new intra-I region recombinant mouse strains. Immunogenetics 19: 175–178, 1984
Blankenhorn, E. P., Cecka, J. M., Götze, D., and Hood, L.: Partial N-terminal amino acid sequence of rat transplantation antigens. Nature 274: 90–92, 1978
Blankenhorn, E. P., Symington, F. W., and Cramer, D. V.: Biochemical characterization of Ia antigens encoded by the RTI.B and RTI.D loci in the rat MHC. Immunogenetics 17: 475–484, 1983
Blin, N. and Stafford, D. W.: Isolation of high molecular weight DNA. Nucleic Acids Res. 3: 2303–2308, 1976
Cecka, J. M., Blankenhorn, E. P., Götze, D., and Hood, L.: Microsequence analysis of la antigens from three strains of rats. Eur. J. Immunol. 10: 140–144, 1980
Cramer, D. V. and Shonnard, J. W.: Comparison of MLR phenotypes and immune responses in rats immunized with synthetic and natural protein antigens. Transplant. Proc. 15: 1597–1599, 1983
Cramer, D. V., Davis, B. K., Shonnard, J. W., Stark, O., and Gill, T. J. III: Phenotypes of the major histocompatibility complex in wild rats from different geographic origins. J. Immunol. 120: 179–187, 1978
Gill, T. J. III, Cramer, D. V., Kunz, H. W., and Misra, D. N.: Structure and function of the major histocompatibility complex of the rat. J. Immunogenet. 10: 261–273, 1983
Götze, D. (ed.): The Major Histocompatibility System in Man and Animals, Springer-Verlag, New York, 1977
Götze, D., Nadeau, J., Wakeland, E. K., Berry, R. J., Bonhomme, F., Egorov, I. K., Hjorth, J. P., Hoogstraal, H., Vives, J., Winking, H., and Klein, J.: Histocompatibility-2 system in wild mice. X. Frequencies of H-2 and la antigens in wild mice from Europe and Africa. J. Immunol. 124: 2675–2681, 1980
Hood, L., Steinmetz, M., and Malisson, B.: Genes of the major histocompatibility complex of the mouse. Annu. Rev. Immunol. 1: 529–568, 1983
Howard, J. C.: The major histocompatibility complex of the rat: a partial review. Metabolism 32(Suppl. 1): 41–50, 1983
Jones, P. P., Murphy, D. B., and McDevitt, H. O.: Two gene control of the expression of a murine la antigen. J. Exp. Med. 148: 925–939, 1978
Lobel, S. A. and Cramer, D. V.: Demonstration of a new genetic locus in the major histocompatibility system of the rat. Immunogenetics 13: 465–473, 1981
Maniatis, T., Fritsch, E. F., and Sambrook, J.: Molecular Cloning, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, New York, 1982
Palmer, M., Wettstein, P. J., and Frelinger, J. A.: Evidence for extensive polymorphism of class I genes in the rat major histocompatibility complex (RT1). Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 80: 7616–7620, 1984
Shin, H.-S., Stavnezer, J., Artzt, K., and Bennett, D.: Genetic structure and origin of t haplotypes of mice, analyzed with H-2 DNA probes. Cell 29: 969–976, 1982
Silver, L. M.: Genomic analysis of the H-2 complex region associated with mouse t haplotypes. Cell 29: 961–968, 1982
Southern, E.: Detection of specific sequences among DNA fragments separated by gel electrophoresis. J. Mol. Biol. 98: 503–517, 1975
Wagener, D. K., Cramer, D. V., Shonnard, J. W., and Davis, B. K.: Linkage disequilibrium between two genetic loci of the major histocompatibility complex in rats. Immunogenetics 9: 157–164, 1979
Wallis, A. E. and McMaster, W. R.: Sequence of a cDNA coding for a rat class II Aα chain: extensive DNA and protein sequence identity to H-2 Aα and HLA DC1α chains. Immunogenetics 19: 53–62, 1984
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Blankenhorn, E.P., Cramer, D.V. Orientation of the loci encoding RTI.B polypeptides in the major histocompatibility complex of the rat. Immunogenetics 21, 135–142 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00364865
Received:
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00364865