Sample sequencing of the human major histocompatibility complex class I region identifies further new genes

We used sample sequencing, a technique which generates random genomic sequence from cosmid clones and compares them with sequences deposited in the GenBank databases, to identify new genes in the class I region of the human major histocompatibility region. We isolated and ordered cosmid clones from a flow-sorted chromosome (Chr) 6 cosmid library, generating cosmid contigs covering approximately one third of the HLA class I region. Fifteen of these cosmids were then sample sequenced. A total of 216,694 bp of genomic sequence was generated and compared with sequences deposited in GenBank databases. In addition to identifying established class I region genes, a number of potential new genes were identified, including several which were not included in the recent major histocompatibility complex (MHC) consensus sequence map. Of particular interest are several new transcripts in the psoriasis susceptibility region.