Sequence analysis of the 2nd intron revealed common sequence motifs providing the means for a unique sequencing based typing protocol of the HLA-A locus

We here present a sequencing strategy for the HLA-A locus which is generally applicable for all HLA class I genes. The typing strategy is based on a group-specific amplification according to the serologically defined antigens. The PCR products carry the typing-relevant polymorphic regions of the 2nd and 3rd exon including the 2nd intron. The sequencing primers were designed to match conserved sequence motifs in the 2nd intron allowing a nested sequencing approach in 3' and 5' direction. These conserved regions were identified after sequence compilation of the 2nd intron of 143 clinical samples and 48 cell lines mostly from the 9th and 10th IHWC representing all serologically defined groups of alleles. This strategy allowed the use of only one 5' and one 3' sequencing primer regardless of the amplified allele. Therefore, it was possible to use dye terminator as well as dye primer sequencing chemistry. The amplification strategy allowed the separation of the haplotypes in almost all cases. Thus, an assignment of heterozygous positions requiring high sequencing quality was not necessary, allowing the application of Sequenase as well as TaqPolymerase as sequencing enzyme. Concerning the resolution of heterozygosity it is obvious that this approach is superior to a typing system using a single pair of generic primers followed by direct sequencing, since the latter technique is not capable of defining the cis/trans linkage of polymorphic sequences and, hence, cannot exclude the presence of unknown alleles.