Identification of a novel DQB1 allele DQB1*0616

We report here a novel DQB1 allele (DQB1*0616) identified during sequence-b ased HLA typing. Polymerase chain reaction with proofreading Pwo DNA polyme rase and pfu DNA polymerase and subsequent sequencing yielded identical res ults as that with Tag DNA polymerase. Molecular cloning and sequencing conf irmed that the new DQB1 allele is identical to DQB1*0602 at exon 2 except f or a single nucleotide substitution (TAC-->AAC), changing codon 60 from Tyr to Asn. This is the first report of polymorphism of DQB1 alleles at codon 60.