Sequence of the mouse Q4 class I gene and characterization of the gene product
b"The Q4 class I gene has been shown to participate\\nin gene conversion events within the mouse major\\nhistocompatibility complex. Its complete genomic nucleotide\\nsequence has been determined. The 5' half of Q4\\nresembles H-2 genes more strongly than other Q genes.\\nIts 3' end, in contrast, is Q-like and contains a translational\\nstop signal in exon 5 which predicts a polypeptide with\\nan incomplete membrane spanning segment. The presence\\nof two inverted B1 repeats suggests that part of the Q4\\ngene may be mobile within the genome. Gene transfer experiments\\nhave shown that the Q4 gene encodes a\\n\\xdf2-microglobulin associated polypeptide of Mr 41 000. A\\nsimilar protein was found in activated mouse spleen cells.\\nThe Q4 polypeptide was found to be secreted both by\\nspleen cells and by transfected fibroblasts and was not detectable\\non the cell surface. Antibody binding and twodimensional\\ngel electrophoresis indicate that the Q4\\nmolecule is identical to a mouse class I polypeptide, Qb-1,\\nwhich has been previously described."