The MHC class I antigens are divided into three groups (A,B and C) and each group belongs on a different gene locus on chromosome 6. The products of all three loci are similar and are made up of a heavy chain (45 kDa) and associated β2 microglobulin molecule (12 kDa) gene, which resides on chromosome 12. The MHC class I antigen differences are due to variations in the α chains, the β2 microglobulin being constant. X-ray crystallography studies have shown that as few as nine amino acids can be tightly bound in the α chain groove.
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