The human Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) locus is located on the short arm of the chromosome 6 at 6p21.3. The chromosome 6 is estimated to be 150-180 Mb in size.
In IMGT/GeneSearch, IMGT/GeneView and IMGT/LocusView, the MHC sequence encompasses 3550069 bp; from13165 bp upstream from HLA-F to 7885 bp downstream from TABP (TAPASIN), therefore covering all the classical MHC Class I, MHC Class III and MHC Class II. This sequence comprises at least 121 functional genes, only the following genes are represented:
-MHC class I: HLA-A, HLA-B, HLA-C
-MHC class II: HLA-DRA, HLA-DRB3, etc
-MHC class III: C2, BF, C4B, CYP21A2
-MHC class I like: HLA-F, MICA, etc
-genes involved in the antigen processing: TAP1, TAP2, PSMB8 (LMP7), PSMB9 (LMP2), TAPBP
-cytokines: LTA, TNF, LTB
The MHC locus localization (start and end: 4954-3550069 bp) and the gene positions refer to the Sanger MHC gene list of May 2000 based on the MHC gene map from Nature 401, 921-923 (1999) (complete sequencing of the locus).
Clones (in blue) and the accession numbers are from the Sanger May 2000 and March 2002 lists. Note that the clones are not represented in their entirety (5' and 3' ends of the clones not shown). The "limits" of the clones correspond to the part of their sequence used in the construction of the contig.
To view clone names, slide the "mouse" over the clone representation (in blue).
The following polymorphic genes by insertion/deletion are missing from the sequenced haplotype: C4A and CYP2, DRB4, DRB5 and the pseudogenes DRB6, DRB7 and DRB8.
The following polymorphic genes by insertion/deletion are missing from the sequenced haplotype: C4A and CYP2, DRB4, DRB5 and the pseudogenes DRB6, DRB7 and DRB8.
