The CD94 receptor, expressed on natural killer (NK) and CD8+ T cells, is known as a relatively non-polymorphic receptor with orthologues in humans, other primates, cattle, and rodents. In the house mouse (Mus musculus), a single allele is highly conserved among laboratory strains, and reports of allelic variation in lab- or wild-living mice are lacking, except for deficiency in one lab strain (DBA/2J). The non-classical MHC-I molecule Qa-1b is the ligand for mouse CD94/NKG2A, presenting alternative non-americ fragment of leader peptides (Qa-1 determinant modifier (Qdm)) from classical MHC-I molecules. Here, we report a novel allele identified in free-living house mice captured in Norway, living among individuals carrying the canonical Cd94 allele. The novel Cd94LocA allele encodes 12 amino acid substitutions in the extracellular lectin-like domain. Flow cytometric analysis of primary NK cells and transfected cells indicates that the substitutions prevent binding of CD94 mAb and Qa-1b/Qdm tetramers. Our data further indicate correlation of Cd94 polymorphism with the two major subspecies of house mice in Europe. Together, these findings suggest that the Cd94LocA/NKG2A heterodimeric receptor is widely expressed among M. musculus subspecies musculus, with ligand-binding properties different from mice of subspecies domesticus, such as the C57BL/6 strain.

• MeSH
• Alleles MeSH
• Killer Cells, Natural metabolism   MeSH
• CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes metabolism   MeSH
• CHO Cells MeSH
• Cricetulus MeSH
• Species Specificity MeSH
• HEK293 Cells MeSH
• Cricetinae MeSH
• NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily C chemistry   genetics   metabolism   MeSH
• NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily D chemistry   genetics   metabolism   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Histocompatibility Antigens Class I chemistry   genetics   metabolism   MeSH
• Protein Multimerization MeSH
• Mice, Inbred C57BL MeSH
• Mice, Inbred DBA MeSH
• Peptides chemistry   genetics   metabolism   MeSH
• Polymorphism, Genetic * MeSH
• Amino Acid Sequence MeSH
• Sequence Homology, Amino Acid MeSH
• Protein Binding MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Cricetinae MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Geographicals
• Norway MeSH