A single nucleotide difference at the 3' end of an intron causes differential splicing of two histocompatibility genes.

The murine histocompatibility class I genes, H-2 Kb and Kk, display considerable homology at their 3' ends. In fact, from exon 5 to the termination codon, only two nucleotides differ between the two genes, one at the 5' end and the other at the 3' end of intron 7. Despite this similarity, the gene products have distinctly different mol. wts as determined by SDS-PAGE. By constructing two hybrid genes, pC2 and pC4, we demonstrated that it is the cytoplasmic parts of the antigens (encoded by exons 6-8) which are responsible for the major difference in mol. wt. We have used site-directed mutagenesis to change the two nucleotides in intron 7 of the H-2 Kk gene to those present in the H-2 Kb gene. S1 nuclease mapping has been used to identify the actual splice site of the authentic Kb and Kk genes, the hybrid genes and the mutagenized genes. We have shown that it is the 3' nucleotide difference, nine nucleotides upstream of the 3' splice site, which causes the different excision of intron 7 of the Kb gene. The 5' nucleotide difference does not alter the splicing. The choice of branch points and 3' splice signals for intron 7 of five H-2 class I genes, is discussed.