PCR IDENTIFICATION OF CLASS-I MAJOR HISTOCOMPATIBILITY COMPLEX GENES TRANSCRIBED IN MOUSE BLASTOCYST AND PLACENTA

We used an RT-PCR based strategy to amplify, clone and sequence MHC cl ass I genes transcribed in the blastocyst and placenta of BALB/c mice. The PCR primers used were capable of amplifying many novel class I se quences from genomic DNA. By comparing the resulting sequence data wit h known class I sequences, we identified a number of different class I genes transcribed in these tissues. These include H2-K, -D, -L and a novel sequence in blastocysts, and H2-K, -D, -L, -D2, -T9, -T13, -T17, -T18, -M2 and three additional novel sequences in placenta. We postul ate that some members of this spectrum of blastocyst and placentally-e xpressed MHC class Ib genes may act together at the maternal-fetal int erface in ways that are important for a successful pregnancy. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.