Sequence of i‐e genes from autoimmune new zealand white mice

Abstract
Autoimmune New Zealand white (NZW) mice contribute to (New Zealand black × New Zealand white)F1 mice 1 or more major histocompatibility complex‐linked genes that strongly correlate with susceptibility to murine lupus. The NZW class II major histocompatibility complex genes, I‐Eα and I‐Eβ, were cloned and sequenced and found to differ from normal B10.PL (H‐2u) mice by 3 amino acids in the first domain of the I‐Eβ subunit. Of these differences, the arginine at position 72 of NZW mice could be an important disease determinant since it lies in a predicted antigen‐binding cleft.