TCR Vb 17 gene polymorphism in wild populations of Indian Mus musculus

The Indian house mouse populations, in addition to extreme polymorphism for nuclear genes encoding for various isozymes and mitochondrial DNA also show a high level of variation for the TCR Vb 17 gene. RFLP analysis has revealed six variant forms of the gene which are classified on the basis of size of the restriction fragment. These forms are not present in the laboratory inbred strains. The new alleles are present at different frequencies in nine Indian localities. Gene expression study showed that all the alleles are functional and expressed, though at varying levels. No case of clonal deletion was observed in these animals. Variable expression levels of the Vb 17 gene in these natural populations of mice might be under the control