title: HLA-C typing of eleven Papua New Guineans: identification of an HLA-Cw4/Cw2 hybrid allele.
abstract: HLA-C polymorphism of 11 individuals from Papua New Guinea was studied by serology and DNA typing (SSP ARMS-PCR). To resolve certain discrepancies HLA-C alleles were cloned and sequenced. Five alleles were identified by sequencing, four of which; Cw*0304, Cw*0401, Cw*12022 and Cw*1502 have been identified previously in other populations. The fifth allele, which was found in four individuals is a novel HLA-C allele. The new allele, called HLA-Cw*0403 is most similar to HLA-Cw*0401, differing by 10 nucleotides, 9 of which are located in the region from nucleotide 98 to 218. This region of Cw*0403 is identical to both HLA-Cw*0201 and Cw*02022. The 9 nucleotide differences between Cw*0401 and Cw*0403 result in 6 amino acid differences in the alpha 1 domain. These amino acids in Cw*0403 may contribute to the serological typing of some, but not all Cw*0403 expressing cells. The Final difference between Cw*0401 and Cw*0403 is a coding substitution at nucleotide 979 in exon 5. The guanine found in Cw*0403 is identical to all HLA-C alleles except HLA-Cw*0401, which has an adenine. The Cw*0403 allele was most likely formed by a gene conversion event between Cw*02 and Cw*04, involving a minimum of 121 to a maximum of 215 nucleotides.
authors.affiliation: Department of Structural Biology, Stanford University, USA.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Little
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mason
authors.forename: S G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Marsh
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Parham
mesh_terms: D000483:Alleles; D005802:Genes, MHC Class II / Q000276:immunology*; D005838:Genotype; D015236:HLA-C Antigens / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics*; D006239:Haplotypes; D006650:Histocompatibility Testing; D006801:Humans; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D010219:Papua New Guinea; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
chemical_list: D015236:HLA-C Antigens; C048767:HLA-C*02 antigen; C039966:HLA-C*04 antigen