COMPLETE CODING REGIONS OF 2 NOVEL HLA-B ALLELES DETECTED BY PHOTOTYPING (PCR-SSP) IN THE BRITISH CAUCASOID POPULATION - B-ASTERISK-5108 AND B-ASTERISK-5002

Two previously reported PCR-SSP variants of the HLA-B locus, B51GAC an d B45v, were investigated by RT-PCR cloning and nucleotide sequence an alysis of their complete coding regions. They have been shown to corre spond to the new alleles B5108 and B*5002, both of which differ from the common B5101 and B*5001 subtypes, respectively, by amino acid rep lacements at their alpha-2 domain alpha-helices. The primary structure of B5002. intermediate between those of B*4501 and B*5001, raises fu rther concern about the current classification of B45 as a B12 rather than as a B50 subtype.