title: Description of a Qa-2 like alloantigen (Qa-m2).
abstract: Several new aspects of the chemistry, genetics and cellular distribution of the murine Qa-2 alloantigen were apparent in an analysis of this antigen using monoclonal antibodies recognizing a Qa-2-like antigen called Qa-m2. Immunoprecipitation and sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis identified the Qa-m2 alloantigen as a two-chain structure composed of a 39 000 dalton heavy chain and a 12 000 light chain which is probably beta 2-microglobulin; the heavy chain was readily distinguished from that of H-2. In addition, the expression of Qa-m2 alloantigens on the cell surface was found to be controlled by the H-2D gen with H-2Db strains carrying approximately 8-10 times greater amounts of Qa-m2 than strains carrying the H-2Dd or H-2Dq alleles. Finally, the Qa-m2 antigen, found predominantly on peripheral T cells, was present on only 10% of thymus cells. However, subpopulations of B cells (approximately 25% of all B cells) and bone marrow cells (15-20%) were also reactive. The monoclonal anti-Qa-m2 antibodies differed in their reactions from that reported for the conventional anti-Qa-2 sera, which must, therefore, be complex. The monoclonal antibodies may be useful reagents for functional analysis of T and B cell subpopulations.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology; D001666:Binding Sites, Antibody; D002459:Cell Fusion; D055598:Chemical Phenomena; D002621:Chemistry; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D003348:Cortisone / Q000494:pharmacology; D003601:Cytotoxicity Tests, Immunologic; D006183:H-2 Antigens / Q000235:genetics; D007519:Isoantigens / Q000235:genetics; D051379:Mice; D008805:Mice, Inbred A; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D012397:Rosette Formation; D013045:Species Specificity; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D006183:H-2 Antigens; D007519:Isoantigens; D003348:Cortisone