title: DNA sequencing of the MHC class II region and the chromosome 6 sequencing effort at the Sanger Centre.
abstract: The human Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) is located on the short arm of chromosome 6 (6p21.3) and spans about 4 Mb. According to different gene families the MHC is subdivided into a class I, class II and class III region and many of its gene products are associated with the immune system and the susceptibility to various diseases. To date, we have sequenced about 40% (400 kb) of the class II region between HLA-DP and HLA-DQ and a coordinated effort to sequence the entire MHC is well underway. Analysis of the sequence revealed several novel genes and provides new insights into the molecular organisation and evolution of the MHC. All our data are publicly available via the MHC database (MHCDB) which allows rapid access, retrieval and display in the context of other MHC associated data. MHCDB is online available at (http:(/)/www.hgmp.mrc.ac.uk/) and, together with all our sequences also via anonymous ftp (ftp.icnet.uk/icrf-public).
authors.affiliation: DNA Sequencing Laboratory, Imperial Cancer Research Fund, London, UK.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Abdulla
authors.forename: R P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Alderton
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Glynne
authors.forename: I G
authors.initials: IG
authors.lastname: Gut
authors.forename: L K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Hosking
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jackson
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kelly
authors.forename: W R
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Newell
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Radley
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sanseau
authors.forename: K L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Thorpe
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Trowsdale
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Beck
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001482:Base Composition; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D002896:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 6 / Q000235:genetics*; D005796:Genes; D005802:Genes, MHC Class II / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D011544:Pseudogenes / Q000235:genetics; D012091:Repetitive Sequences, Nucleic Acid / Q000235:genetics; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA / Q000379:methods