Analysis of major histocompatibility complex class I gene transcription using oligonucleotide probes

Many highly homologous genes are present in the murine major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I gene family. Consequently, it is difficult to distinguish between RNA transcripts of individual class I genes solely on the basis of nucleic acid hybridization analysis using DNA probes over 50 base pairs long. To avoid this problem, I have designed and synthesized a set of oligonucleotide probes capable of detecting transcripts of single class I genes in the MHC of C57BL/10 mice or sets of allelic class I genes at the same genetic locus in MHC disparate mouse strains. Using these probes, it is possible to determine the relative abundance of specific class I gene transcripts in a wide variety of cell and tissue types from inbred or MHC disparate mice. Examples of the use of these probes to detect different class I gene transcripts in cloned murine T cells, T cells transformed with Radiation Leukemia Virus, chemically induced thymoma cell lines and embryonic tissues are described. The results of these experiments are discussed in the light of possible roles of class I antigens in tumorigenesis or in early development.