Identification of new HLA class I region genes by sample sequencing.
Although many human major histocompatibility genes have been identified, relatively few have been localized to the class I region. We searched for new class I region genes by sample sequencing, a process in which short stretches of random genomic sequence are generated from cosmids and then compared with sequences deposited in nucleotide databases. Four class I region cosmids were isolated for sample sequencing by screening a chromosome 6 specific cosmid library with probes derived from specific class I region genes or with overlapping class I region yeast artificial chromosomes. Cosmids were sonnicated to produce fragments of 0.5 - 1 kilobases, subcloned, and sequenced using an automated sequencer. Sequences were then compared with nucleotide sequences deposited in the GenBank databases using the BLASTN algorithm. A number of potential new class I region genes were identified, including a cDNA with similarity to the tre oncogene, the trans-activating factor SC1 (TCF19), and a member of the interferon inducible 1 - 8 gene family. These observations suggest that sample sequencing is an efficient method for identifying new class I region genes, which can be applied to other regions of the genome and to other species, and support previous observations that the class I region contains a variety of genes other than those encoding HLA antigens.
Goldsworthy
M
M
Departments of Nephrology and Transplantation, UMDS, 17th Floor Guy's Tower, Guy's Hospital, London Bridge, London SE1 9RT, UK.
Sampath
A
A
Wilkinson
J M
JM
Powis
S H
SH
D001483:Base Sequence; D003360:Cosmids; D005805:Genes, MHC Class I; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D017421:Sequence Analysis / Q000379:methods; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid
D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I