Structure and expression of the mouse beta 2-microglobulin gene isolated from somatic and non-expressing teratocarcinoma cells.

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Abstract
Mouse teratocarcinoma cells express neither H‐2 heavy chains nor beta 2‐microglobulin (beta 2‐m). We have constructed two genomic libraries, one from PCC4‐aza‐RI embryonal carcinoma cells and the other from their adult syngenic counterpart 129/Sv liver cells (H‐2bc). The libraries were screened with a full length mouse beta 2‐m cDNA probe which we isolated and sequenced. Two cosmid clones carrying the entire beta 2‐m gene were isolated, one from each library. There was no detectable difference in structure between the two genes. Furthermore, both were shown to be active and to restore beta 2‐m synthesis upon transfer into mutant cells deficient in beta 2‐m. Irreversible DNA alterations in or around the beta 2‐m gene are thus unlikely to account for the lack of beta 2‐m gene expression in embryonal teratocarcinoma cells.