An HLA-B locus probe clarifies endonuclease polymorphism of major histocompatibility complex class I genes.

A DNA probe specific for the HLA-B locus has been isolated from a broadly cross-reactive HLA class I genomic clone. Locus specificity of the probe appears to be derived primarily from a stretch of approximately 180 nucleotides comprising the last (7th) intron of the original B7 gene. Use of the probe to analyze Southern blots of genomic DNA from unrelated individuals provides the first direct demonstration of intragenic localization of an HLA allele-specific restriction endonuclease site. Availability of this probe should make practicable the study of HLA-B locus restriction fragment length polymorphism as genetic markers of disease susceptibility, and should provide a model for developing probes specific for other HLA class I loci.