OBJECTIVES: The polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based method was used to obtain and sequence three H-2K and three H-2D mouse complementary DNAs (cDNA) of class I major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules. METHODS: Messenger RNA was isolated from Conconavalin A-activated splenocytes of C57BL/10 (H-2b), C3H (H-2k), and Balb/c (H-2d) mice. We designed H-2K- and H-2D-specific primers as well as a common downstream primer based on previously published mouse class I MHC sequences. Using the PCR method and selective primers we isolated and sequenced H-2Kb and H-2Db cDNAs of C57BL/10, H-2Kk and H-2k cDNAs of C3H, as well as H-2Kd and H-2Dd cDNAs of Balb/c strains. RESULTS: Analysis of the nucleotide sequences documented similarity between our three H-2K cDNA sequences and all mouse MHC class I sequences available in the GenBank. Similarly, our three H-2D sequences were homologous with all mouse class I MHC sequences deposited in the GenBank. Our H-2K and H-2D sequences were also identical to numerous published sequences. CONCLUSIONS: Using these mouse cDNAs, we plan to determine the localization of polymorphic in vivo immunogenic amino acids in class I MHC H-2K and H-2D alloantigens.

Keywords: Amino Acid Sequence, Amino Acid Sequence, Base Sequence, Cloning, Molecular, Consensus Sequence, DNA, Complementary, Genes, MHC Class I, H-2 Antigens - biosynthesis, H-2 Antigens - chemistry, H-2 Antigens - genetics, Mice, Mice, Inbred BALB C - genetics, Mice, Inbred C3H - genetics, Mice, Inbred C57BL - genetics, Mice, Inbred Strains - genetics, Molecular Sequence Data, Recombinant Proteins - biosynthesis, Recombinant Proteins - chemistry, Sequence Alignment, Sequence Homology, Amino Acid, Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid