Complete coding regions of two novel HLA‐B alleles detected by prototyping (PCR‐SSP) in the British Caucasoid population: B*5108 and B*5002

Abstract
Two previously reported PCR‐SSP variants of the HLA‐B locus, B51GAC and B45v, were investigated by RT‐PCR cloning and nucleotide sequence analysis of their complete coding regions. They have been shown to correspond to the new alleles B*5108 and B*5002, both of which differ from the common B*5101 and B*5001 subtypes, respectively, by amino acid replacements at their α‐2 domain α‐helices. The primary structure of B*5002, intermediate between those of B*4501 and B*5001, raises further concern about the current classification of B*45 as a B12 rather than as a B*50 subtype.