Characterization of 18 new BoLA-DRB3 alleles

The second exon of the bovine MHC class IT DRB3 gene was amplified by polym erase chain reaction [PCR) from DNA samples of 568 zebu Brahman cattle [Bos indicus] from Martinique [French West Indies). Cloning of these PCR produc ts allowed the isolation of both alleles from each animal, which were chara cterized by the PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) techniq ue using the restriction enzymes RsaI, BstYI and HaeIII. Four new PCR-RFLP patterns were obtained by digestion with RsaI. These patterns were named 'v ','w', 'x' and 'y' continuing the accepted nomenclature. Sequencing of each allele allowed the identification of 18 new BoLA-DRB3 exon 2 nucleotide se quences and their deduced amino acid sequences.