Sequence of HLA-A*6808

A novel HLA-A*68 allele was identified by reference strand conformation analysis of a DNA sample studied for the International Cell Exchange program. Direct sequencing of HLA-A locus PCR products confirmed the presence of A*6602 and an A*68 allele which differed from A*68011 by two nucleotides at positions 538 and 539. The presence of this sequence motif in this allele which has been named A*6808 was verified by DNA sequencing of full-length A*6808 clones. No other coding differences between A*68011 and A*6808 were identified. The two nucleotide substitutions found in A*6808 effect an amino acid difference in the encoded protein at residue 156 within the peptide binding site which may evoke alloreactive immune response after HLA-A68 mismatched transplants.