Description of a Qa‐2 like alloantigen (Qa‐m2)

Abstract

Several new aspects of the chemistry, genetics and cellular distribution of the murine Qa‐2 alloantigen were apparent in an analysis of this antigen using monoclonal antibodies recognizing a Qa‐2‐like antigen called Qa‐m2. Immunoprecipitation and sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis identified the Qa‐m2 alloantigen as a two‐chain structure composed of a 39 000 dalton heavy chain and a 12000 light chain which is probably β2‐microglobulin; the heavy chain was readily distinguished from that of H‐2. In addition, the expression of Qa‐m2 alloantigens on the cell surface was found to be controlled by the H‐2D gene with H‐2Db strains carrying approximately 8‐10 times g..