Abstract
The major histocompatibility region of man (HLA) codes for two groups of polymorphic cell surface membrane antigens. One group comprises the products of the A, B and C loci. The second group represents the Ia (immune-associated) antigens, some of which show a close association with the D locus. The strategy employed for the isolation of these antigens and the establishment of their molecular structures is reviewed. The A, B and C antigens are composed of a 43 000 molecular mass glycosylated polypeptide which carries the polymorphic specificities and which is non-covalently linked to a non-glycosylated polypeptide of molecular mass 12 000, namely β2-microglobulin. Structural analyses indicate that the A and B antigens have arisen by gene duplication and that the C gene(s) probably arose from the A gene(s). The Ia antigens do not contain β2-microglobulin but comprise two non-covalently linked glycosylated polypeptides of molecular masses 33 000 and 28 000. Only the 33 000 molecular mass chain is apparently a product of the HLA region.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 159-175 |
Number of pages | 17 |
Journal | Unknown Journal |
Volume | 202 |
Issue number | 1146 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jan 1 1978 |
All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
- General Immunology and Microbiology
- General Environmental Science
- General Agricultural and Biological Sciences