Mta, a maternally inherited cell surface antigen of the mouse, is transmitted in the egg.
Mta is a maternally transmitted cell surface antigen found in most mouse strains. It serves as a target for unrestricted T killer cells. All 49 embryos transferred between positive and negative mothers, even as early as 10-15 hr after fertilization, developed into mice with the Mta type of their original mothers. Therefore the genetic element that determines expression of Mta must be transmitted by the egg. Mta+ and Mta- lymphocytes, coexisting for months in lethally irradiated F1 mice reconstituted with a mixture of parental bone marrow cells, retained their Mta type. Thus Mta does not spread by infection.
D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000235:genetics*; D001755:Blastocyst / Q000276:immunology; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells; D004624:Embryo Transfer; D005260:Female; D005306:Fertilization; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D010063:Ovum / Q000276:immunology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011555:Pseudopregnancy
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000954:Antigens, Surface