A pseudogene homologous to mouse transplantation antigens: transplantation antigens are encoded by eight exons that correlate with protein domains.

We have isolated about 30 to 40 different BALB/c mouse sperm DNA genomic clones that hybridize to cDNA clones encoding proteins homologous to transplantation antigens. One of these clones (27.1) was selected for sequence because it was polymorphic in Southern blot analysis of the DNAs from BALB/c and CBA mice. A fragment of 5.7 kilobases of this clone was completely sequenced and found to contain a pseudogene whose sequence is highly homologous to the sequences of known transplantation antigens. Pseudogene 27.1 is split into eight exons that correlate with the structurally defined protein domains of transplantation antigens. Using Southern blot hybridization on the DNAs of different inbred mouse strains, we mapped the pseudogene to the Qa-2,3 region, a part of the Tla complex on chromosome 17 that is adjacent to the major histocompatibility complex. The Qa2,3 region encodes lymphoid differentiation antigens homologous to the transplantation antigens in size, in peptide map profiles and in their association with beta2-microglobulin. These mapping studies suggest that gene 27.1 may be a pseudogene for eigher a Qa antigen or an as yet undefined transplantation antigen. Accordingly, we may have isolate genes encoding lymphoid differentiation antigens of the Tla complex as well as those encoding transplantation antigens among the 30 to 40 different genomic clones isolated from our sperm library.