# HLA-DQA1

Source: https://onco.cc/targets/hla-dqa1/  
OnCo record `hla-dqa1` (Target). Data CC BY-NC 4.0, attribute "Data from OnCo (onco.cc)"; commercial use needs a licence.

## TL;DR

HLA-DQA1 (HLA class II histocompatibility antigen, DQ alpha 1 chain) is a gene that drives cell growth when it is altered. The public catalogues list it as an oncogene driver, and it is called a cancer driver by mutation analysis of patient cohorts. Tied to Mesothelioma and Pleural mesothelioma.

## Summary

Binds peptides derived from antigens that access the endocytic route of antigen presenting cells (APC) and presents them on the cell surface for recognition by the CD4 T-cells. The peptide binding cleft accommodates peptides of 10-30 residues. The peptides presented by MHC class II molecules are generated mostly by degradation of proteins that access the endocytic route, where they are processed by lysosomal proteases and other hydrolases.

IntOGen calls it a driver in 1 cohort (1 activating, 0 loss-of-function), covering Pleural Mesothelioma.

## Fields

- Kind: Target
- Last checked: 2026-09-23
- Also known as: major histocompatibility complex, class II, DQ alpha 1; HLA class II histocompatibility antigen, DQ alpha 1 chain; CELIAC1; HLA-DQA
- Tags: cancer-genes-wave
- Symbol: HLA-DQA1
- Class: oncogene
- Biology: Binds peptides derived from antigens that access the endocytic route of antigen presenting cells (APC) and presents them on the cell surface for recognition by the CD4 T-cells. The peptide binding cleft accommodates peptides of 10-30 residues. The peptides presented by MHC class II molecules are generated mostly by degradation of proteins that access the endocytic route, where they are processed by lysosomal proteases and other hydrolases. Exogenous antigens that have been endocytosed by the APC are thus readily available for presentation via MHC II molecules, and for this reason this antigen presentation pathway is usually referred to as exogenous. As membrane proteins on their way to degradation in lysosomes as part of their normal turn-over are also contained in the endosomal/lysosomal compartments, exogenous antigens must compete with those derived from endogenous components. Autophagy is also a source of endogenous peptides, autophagosomes constitutively fuse with MHC class II loading compartments. Location: Cell membrane; Endoplasmic reticulum membrane; Golgi apparatus, trans-Golgi network membrane; Endosome membrane (UniProt). Locus 6p21.32 (HGNC).
- Where found: Mesothelioma: IntOGen driver in 1 cohort (PLMESO); Pleural mesothelioma: IntOGen driver in 1 cohort (PLMESO)

## Notes

- Written by scripts/fetch-cancer-genes.ts from CIViC, Open Targets, IntOGen, HGNC and UniProt; the function text is UniProt's, condensed and in UK spelling. Roles: IntOGen calls it an activating (Act) driver in 1 cohort. Evidence tier "cohort-driver" is the strongest of those signals.
- Prevalence not recorded: none of the sources gives a positivity rate.

## Sources

- HGNC HGNC:4942: https://www.genenames.org/data/gene-symbol-report/#!/hgnc_id/HGNC:4942
- UniProt P01909: https://www.uniprot.org/uniprotkb/P01909/entry
- NCBI Gene 3117: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gene/3117
- Ensembl ENSG00000196735: https://www.ensembl.org/Homo_sapiens/Gene/Summary?g=ENSG00000196735

## Connected records

- collections: [IntOGen](https://onco.cc/collections/intogen/)
- cancers: [Mesothelioma](https://onco.cc/cancers/mesothelioma/), [Pleural mesothelioma](https://onco.cc/cancers/pleural-mesothelioma/)

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JSON: https://onco.cc/api/v1/entities/hla-dqa1.json