# GENETICS, STRUCTURE, AND EXPRESSION OF IA ANTIGENS

> **NIH NIH R01** · STANFORD UNIVERSITY · 1992 · $213,299

## Abstract

The proposed research will continue our studies of the functional
significance and evolutionary origins of the genetic polymorphism in
class II (Ia) genes of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC),
focusing on rodents. We will extend our characterization of the roles of
polymorphic amino acid residues in determining the efficacy of Ia
antigens in binding processed foreign antigen and in T-cell recognition
of the Ia-Ag complex. Several different sets of antigen-specific T cell
clones and hybridomas will be used: I-A-restricted T cells specific for a
myelin basic protein peptide, azobenzenearsonate-tyro-sine, or peptides
from hen egg lysozyme, and I-E-restricted T cells specific for myoglobin.
The latter will be used to explore the functional significance of the
absence of polymorphism in the E alpha chain. To characterize the
repertoires of T cell receptors specific for a given Ia-Ag complex (in
particular, to examine the variety of different registers or views by
which the receptors interact with the Ia-Ag complex), we will sequence
the receptors of T cells with well-characterized Ia and Ag fine
specifities and create hybrid receptors to probe regions involved in Ia
or Ag discrimination. The origins and functional significance of
heterogeneity in Ia glycosylation will also be explored. The knowledge
obtained should facilitate development of immune therapies for treating
autoimmune diseases.

We will also extend our studies of the evolution of class II polymorphism
by studying the class II genes of rodent species belonging to subfamilies
of the family Muridae distinct from mice and rats, namely Peromyscus,
Microtus, and Spalax. We will characterized the numbers and organization
of class II genes, the expression of their RNA and protein, and their
sequences, using PCR amplification. These studies should help to
characterize the variability in class II gene usage in rodents and to
trace the origins of class II polymorphism.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3126399
- **Project number:** 5R01AI015732-14
- **Recipient organization:** STANFORD UNIVERSITY
- **SAM.gov UEI:** HJD6G4D6TJY5
- **Principal Investigator:** PATRICIA P JONES
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1992
- **Award amount:** $213,299
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1979-05-01 → 1994-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3126399

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3126399, GENETICS, STRUCTURE, AND EXPRESSION OF IA ANTIGENS (5R01AI015732-14). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3126399. Licensed CC0.

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