Serological and nucleotide sequence analysis of HLA-A*6812

We describe a novel HLA-A allele, HLA-A*6812. HLA-typing of a patient was performed by serology and by DNA-based analyses. Cloning and sequencing of exons 2 and 3 revealed that the genotype consisted of a common HLA-A*0101 allele and the novel HLA-A*6812 allele. HLA*6812 is identical to HLA-A*68012 except for a single non-synonymous nucleotide substitution leading to an exchange of a threonine to an isoleucine residue at position 142 of the HLA-class I alpha chain. The allele was also found in the patient's mother. The novel HLA-A68 molecule is recognised by some but not all of our HLA-A28-specific sera. These results confirm that position 142 is important for the serological properties of the HLA-A molecule.