Extensive deletions and insertions in different MHC supratypes detected by pulsed field gel electrophoresis

The genomic organization of the human MHC was examined in multiple examples of six different supratypes using pulsed field electrophoresis (PFGE) after digestion of genomic DNA with infrequently cutting restriction endonucleases. Differences in restriction fragment length and band intensity were shown to be specific for each supratype. Mapping of the MHC revealed that each supratype contains previously undescribed deletions and insertions between HLA B and DQ regions.