Evidence for beta 2-microglobulin-like and H-2-like antigenic determinants in Drosophila

Serologic evidence for the existence of beta 2-microglobulin-, (beta 2m) like and H-2-like antigenic determinants in Drosophila are presented. Drosophila-cultured cells and larvae extract were shown to react specifically with a rabbit anti-rat beta 2m and a rabbit anti-mouse beta 2m antisera. G-200 pooled fractions from Drosophila larvae were shown to react with beta 2m-eluted and glycin-absorbed antisera, but not with beta 2m-absorbed or glycin-eluted antisera. These fractions also quantitatively inhibited the heterologous reaction between the anti-beta 2m antisera and purified human and rat beta 2m. The lack of reactivity of other rabbit antisera or normal serum with Drosophila, as well as the efficiency of absorption of anti-beta 2m reactivity by either rat or KCO% (Drosophila) cells, further supports the presence of beta 2m epitopes on Drosophila cells. Data are also presented showing that certain anti-H-2 alloantisera react with Drosophila. That this reactivity is indeed due to anti-H-2 antibodies is suggested by several lines of evidence, including the removal of cytotoxic alloantibodies and lack of reactivity by other mouse antisera and monoclonal reagents. Preliminary data suggest that the H-2-like and beta 2m-like determinants are physically associated on the cell surface of Drosophila cells. These findings have important implications on current concepts concerning the evolutionary origin and physiologic role of beta 2m and the major histocompatibility complex.