The primary structure of HLA-A32 suggests a region involved in formation of the Bw4/Bw6 epitopes.
All HLA-B locus molecules have either the Bw4 or Bw6 epitopes. In addition, the Bw4 epitope is found on HLA-Aw23, Aw24, and A32, and Bw6 is also found on HLA-Cw3. The structural basis for these determinants and the evolution of their distribution among products of the HLA-B locus has been a long standing puzzle. To identify residues that may be involved in these determinants, we have cloned a gene for A32 and sequenced the protein encoding exons. Comparison of the predicted protein sequence with other HLA-A,B,C sequences identified residues 79 through 83 of the alpha 1 domain as having a pattern of polymorphic substitution that correlates with the presence and absence of the Bw4 and Bw6 epitopes.
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D000939:Epitopes; D005796:Genes; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D015234:HLA-A Antigens / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D015235:HLA-B Antigens; D006801:Humans; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic
D000939:Epitopes; D006680:HLA Antigens; D015234:HLA-A Antigens; C531148:HLA-A*32 antigen; D015235:HLA-B Antigens