Signal sequences distinguish class II histocompatibility antigen beta chains of different loci

The signal sequences of two HLA-DR beta chains and the DR alpha chain were determined. In addition, the major part of a DC beta-chain signal sequence was also elucidated. The data were obtained by combining amino acid sequence analyses of isolated alpha and beta chains with nucleotide sequencing of four cDNA clones. All signal sequences comprise 25 amino acids or more. The two HLA-DR beta-chain signal sequences are identical and exhibit only marginal homology to the DC beta-chain signal sequence. No homology is apparent between alpha- and beta-chain signal sequences. The differences in the signal sequences of the DR and DC beta chains suggest that these sequences may be used to assign beta chains to different loci of the human major histocompatibility complex.