The HLA-DM genes (DMA and DMB) are encoded in the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) on human chromosome 6. They are involved in the loading of antigenic peptide onto class II molecules as part of the class II antigen-processing and -presentation pathway. During a study of Oriental subjects (11 Chinese and 26 Japanese subjects), one Chinese subject was identified as having a new DMB allele using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). This was confirmed with sequencing. The new allele was found to have Glu (GAG) and Thr (ACT) at positions 144 and 179 respectively. This was a previously unpublished combination of polymorphic sites, and was submitted to GenBank and assigned the accession number AF072680, and named HLA-DMB*0106.