title: Genomic organization of a mouse MHC class II region including the H2-M and Lmp2 loci.
abstract: The region encompassing the Ma, Mb1, Mb2, and Lmp2 genes of the mouse class II major histocompatibility complex (MHC) was sequenced. Since this region contains clusters of genes required for efficient class I and class II antigen presentation, it was interesting to search for putative additional genes in the 21 kilobase gap between the Mb1 and Lmp2 genes. Computer predictions of coding regions and CpG islands, exon trapping experiments, and cross-species comparison with the corresponding human sequence indicate that no additional functional gene is present in that stretch. However, computer analysis revealed the possible existence of an alternative 3' exon for Mb1. Except for the fact that the mouse MHC contains two Mb genes, the genomic organization of the H2-M loci was found to be almost identical to the organization of the human HLA-DM genes. The promoter regions of the Ma and Mb genes also resemble classical class II promoters, containing typical S, X, and Y boxes. Like the human genes, the three H2-M genes displayed very limited polymorphism when we compared the cDNA sequences from six haplotypes. Finally, comparison of DMB with Mb1 and Mb2, both at the genomic level and in their coding regions, suggests that the Mb gene was recently duplicated, probably only in certain rodents.
authors.affiliation: The R. W. Johnson Pharmaceutical Research Institute, Scripps Research Institute, IMM23, 10666 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Péléraux
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Karlsson
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chambers
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Peterson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D003546:Cysteine Endopeptidases; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D010450:Endopeptidases / Q000235:genetics; D015723:Gene Library; D005802:Genes, MHC Class II; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006239:Haplotypes; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000235:genetics*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008808:Mice, Inbred CBA; D008811:Mice, Inbred DBA; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains / Q000235:genetics*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
chemical_list: D018076:DNA, Complementary; C094595:H2-DMb1 protein, mouse; C094597:H2-DMb2 protein, mouse; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; C098078:antigen H2-Ma; C071313:LMP-2 protein; D010450:Endopeptidases; D003546:Cysteine Endopeptidases