Polymorphism and diversity in the Tla gene system.

The TL products of mouse strains carrying the Tlaa, Tlad, and Tlae haplotypes were analyzed by comparative peptide mapping. As expected from their known serologic differences, TL antigens from strain A (Tlaa), A.CA strain (Tlad) and P/J strain (Tlae) mice showed structural variation. However, comparable variations were also observed in the TL product derived from strains expressing the serologically indistinguishable Tlaa allele (A, NFS/N, SJL/J, C57BR, and C58) demonstrating additional unexpected polymorphism in the TL system. When compared with the structural diversity of the H-2 K and D gene products, the structural variation of the TL antigens was small. Taken together, the results of our analysis of the TL products suggest that Tla polymorphism is more extensive than previously thought; however, the structural diversity of the products is still low compared with K and D gene products.