Allelic forms of beta 2-microglobulin in the mouse.

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Abstract
Spleen cells from BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice were cultured separately or together; the biosynthetically labeled supernates were examined by 2-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Although there were no major labeled proteins in the mixed group that were not present in the separate cultures, there was a major low MW protein that differed in charge in the 2 strains. This protein was identified as .beta.2-microglobulin; it could be labeled with 125I on the cell surface by using the lactoperoxidase technique, was noncovalently attached to the H-2K molecule and had the expected size and charge when compared with human .beta.2-microglobulin. Both acidic and basic forms were present in (BALB/c .times. C57BL/6) F1 hybrids, suggesting codominant expression, although allelic exclusion was not ruled out. Either parental form could combine with one parental form of the H-2K molecule. The .beta.2-microglobulin gene does not appear to be closely linked to the H-2 or the Ig H-chain complexes. .beta.2-Microglobulin probably is an effector subunit of histocompatibility antigens; its physiological role probably is to interact with a specific killing structure on the surface of cytolytic T lymphocytes and thereby initiate cell destruction.

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