Class I Genes of the Major Histocompatibility Complex: Structural Studies on Genes of the Tla Locus

• Main Author: Fisher, Douglas Arthur
• Format: Others
• Language: en
• Published: 1986
• Online Access: https://thesis.library.caltech.edu/11810/2/Fisher_DA_1986.pdf; Fisher, Douglas Arthur (1986) Class I Genes of the Major Histocompatibility Complex: Structural Studies on Genes of the Tla Locus. Dissertation (Ph.D.), California Institute of Technology. doi:10.7907/ymba-8s86. https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechTHESIS:10102019-163948204 <https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechTHESIS:10102019-163948204>

<p>This thesis contains investigations into the structure of molecules encoded within the mouse major histocompatibility complex. The first chapter [Steinmetz, M., J. G. Frelinger, D. Fisher, T. Hunkapiller, D. Pereira, S. M. Weissman, S. G. Nathenson, and L. Hood, Cell 24: 125] describes the isolation and characterization of the first cDNA clones encoding murine transplantation (H-2) antigens. This study showed that H-2 antigens contain DNA and protein sequences related to immunoglobulin (Ig) molecules, but that the similarity does not include the great somatic diversity characteristic of Ig molecules.</p> <p>The second chapter contains methods for cloning and sequencing in M13 bacteriophage vectors. Included is a novel method of generating overlapping subclones for DNA sequencing by making a family of deletions in a DNA insert cloned in M13.</p> <p>In the third chapter [Fisher, D. A., S. W. Hunt, and L. Hood J. Exp. Med. 162: 528], the complete structure of a gene encoding a serologically defined thymus leukemia (TL) antigen is elucidated. TL antigen is encoded in a gene, gene Tl3c, closely related to H-2 antigens, and appears to have undergone a gene conversion event with an H-2 gene. Tla-specific probes subcloned from T13^C enabled us to examine the organization of the eighteen cross hybridizing class I genes of the Tla region.</p> <p>The last chapter contains the sequence of another gene, gene T1^C, previously identified as encoding TL antigen. However, the T1^C gene is a non-functional pseudogene, and was probably mis-identified. There is an apparent site of recombination in the T1^C gene that occurs precisely at a B2 Alu repeat sequence.</p>