Identification of a novel HLA-DQA1 allele (DQA1*0106) by sequence-based DQA1 typing

We report here a novel DQA1 allele (DQA1*0106) identified during sequence b ased HLA-DQA1 typing. Polymerase chain reaction with proofreading pfu DNA p olymerase and subsequent sequencing yielded identical results as that with Tag DNA polymerase. Molecular cloning and sequencing confirmed that the new DQA1 allele is identical to DQA1*01021/2 at exon 2 except for a single nuc leotide substitution (ACT-->GCT), changing codon 44 from Thr to Ala, This i s the first report of polymorphism at codon 44 of HLA-DQA1 alleles.