A NOVEL EXPRESSION VECTOR FOR TRANSFECTION OF BOVINE MHC CLASS-I GENES

A vector is described for the expression of genomic or cDNA copies of bovine major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I genes in transfe cted mouse Ltk(-) cells. Class I gene fragments are amplified by the p olymerase chain reaction, using primers in conserved parts of exon 2 a nd the 3'-untranslated region of the gene. Amplified class I gene frag ments can then be subcloned into the expression vector, pBoLA-21, whic h contains the necessary 5'-and 3'-sequences for correct expression. T he vector was tested by subcloning and expressing genomic and cDNA clo nes.