A class II antigen (3-chain cDNA clone was isolated from a human B-cell cDNA library by using as a. probe the murine l-A13 gene. This cDNA clone, pHAI3, was shown to be distinct from theDCI3-and DR(3-related loci by DNA sequence analysis, thus suggesting that it might correspond to a third poly. morphic human class H locus, SB, which encodes secondary B-cell antigens. Genetic mapping of this (-chain cDNA clone to the SB region was performed by the blot hybridization procedure. We showed that (i) within panels of HLA-DR homozygous human Bcell lines and of unrelated individuals who have been typed for HLA antigens, differential mobility of DNA fragments segregated with distinct SB genotypes; (ii) y-ray-induced deletion mutants that have lost the expression of DR or DC/MT antigens but maintain SB expression preserved a pattern consistent with (a) their SB phenotype and (b) the genetic independence of the SB locus with respect to DR and DC/MT; and (iii) within an informative family, two siblings differing only for one allele at the SB locus (because of the occurrence of an internal recombination between DR and GLO) and otherwise HLA identical exhibited a restriction enzyme polymorphism linked to.the SB locus. Therefore, all available data are compatible with identity between HA.8 and SB(. In man, the highly polymorphic HLA-D region of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC), whose products have been primarily detected on B lymphocytes and macrophages, controls the major part of the proliferative response in mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR). Serological as well as cellular reagents allowed the identification of two sets of molecular entities that display similar function and tissue distribution to HLA-D products. These antigens, named DR and DC, have been separated and are each composed of two noncovalently associated subunits, a heavy (a) and a light ((3) chain.. DR and DC are the structural equivalents of murine I-E and I-A antigens, respectively. Among the other serologically defined specificities is the MT series found in strong linkage disequilibrium with HLA-DR. Its molecular relationship to the DR and DC antigens is not well defined,.but MT1 has been shown to be identical to DC1 (for review, see refs. 1 and 2).Lymphocytes from individuals that type identically for all known HLA antigens, including DR and DC/MT, have been found to be capable of reciprocal MLR, suggesting the existence .of at least one additional MLR locus. The study of recombinant families in which positive MLR was detected between cells of genotypically DR,DC/MT-identical individuals allowed the division of the D region, between DR and GLO, into two subregions. These subregions were separated by recombination into a telomericregion coding for the DR and DC/ MT antigens and a centromeric region coding for a new segregant series called SB (3-7). Further analysis of informative. recombinant families (8) as well as y-ray-induced deletion mutants that have lost DR and DC/MT expression but maintained the SB expression (9, 10) clearly esta...