title: Analysis of Qa-2 antigen expression by preimplantation mouse embryos: possible relationship to the preimplantation-embryo-development (Ped) gene product.
abstract: The preimplantation-embryo-development (Ped) gene, a gene that controls the cleavage rate of preimplantation mouse embryos, maps to the Qa-2 subregion of the mouse major histocompatibility complex (MHC). A highly sensitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) procedure was used to detect Qa-2 antigens on mouse embryos. The use of a monoclonal antibody specific for Qa-2 antigens showed that Qa-2 antigens were present on oocytes, 2-cell, 8-cell, and blastocyst-stage embryos, with the greatest expression found on blastocysts. Expression of Qa-2 antigens by the embryos correlated completely with Ped gene phenotype. Those embryos expressing the fast Ped allele showed the presence of Qa-2 antigens (Qa-2a mice), whereas those embryos expressing the slow Ped allele showed the absence of Qa-2 antigens (Qa-2b mice). It is hypothesized that the Qa-2 antigen may be the Ped gene product.
mesh_terms: D000483:Alleles; D000818:Animals; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000235:genetics*; D001755:Blastocyst / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; D051379:Mice; D010641:Phenotype
chemical_list: D000954:Antigens, Surface; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; C032907:Q surface antigens