MHC class I genes of the channel catfish: sequence analysis and expression

Citation
Ab. Antao et al., MHC class I genes of the channel catfish: sequence analysis and expression, IMMUNOGENET, 49(4), 1999, pp. 303-311
Citations number
45
Categorie Soggetti
Immunology
Journal title
IMMUNOGENETICS
ISSN journal
00937711 → ACNP
Volume
49
Issue
4
Year of publication
1999
Pages
303 - 311
Database
ISI
SICI code
0093-7711(199904)49:4<303:MCIGOT>2.0.ZU;2-6
Abstract
Four cDNAs encoding the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I alph a chain were isolated from a channel catfish clonal B-cell cDNA library. Se quence analysis suggests these cDNAs represent three different MHC class I loci. All cDNAs encoded conserved residues characteristic of the MHC class I alpha chain: namely, those involved in peptide binding, salt bridges, dis ulfide bond formation, and glycosylation. Southern blot analyses of individ ual outbred and second-generation gynogenetic fish indicated the existence of both polygenic and polymorphic loci. Northern blot studies demonstrated that catfish B, T, and macrophage cell lines transcribed markedly higher le vels of class I cu and beta(2)-microglobulin (beta(2)m) mRNA than fibroblas t cell lines. In addition, immunoprecipitation data showed that a 41 000 M- r glycoprotein (presumably class I alpha) was associated with beta(2)m on t he surface of catfish B cells. This latter finding is the first direct evid ence for the cell surface association of beta(2)m with the MHC class I alph a chain on teleost cells and supports the notion that functional MHC class I proteins exist in teleosts.