A new HLA-A*02 allele, A*0234, detected by polymerase chain reaction using sequence-specific primers (PCR-SSP)

A novel HLA-A*02 allele, A*0234, was identified in a potential unrelated bone marrow donor typed by polymerase chain reaction using sequence-specific primers (PCR-SSP). Positive reactions obtained upon testing with PCR-SSP did not fit any known combination of alleles indicating the possible presence of a novel allele. Sequencing of clones from this individual revealed the presence of a novel allele, HLA-A*0234. The sequence of exons 2, 3 and part of exon 4 showed that A*0234 differed from A*02011 by a single nucleotide in exon 2 at position 282 (C to G). The nucleotide substitution results in an amino acid change at residue 70 (Histidine to Glutamine) in the alpha1 domain.