RNase protection experiments showed that Q8b was actively transcribed in a stably transfected cell line. Moreover, Q8b responded to interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) treatment with increased levels of mRNA expression. Thus Q8b demonstrates a regulatory response to IFN-gamma characteristic of many other class I genes. Cell surface expression of a Q8b product could also be detected by flow cytometric analysis with the Qa-2-specific monoclonal antibody D3.262. The expression of the Q8b cell surface product increased only slightly after cells were treated with IFN-gamma. The Q8b cell surface product was not sensitive to cleavage by phosphatidylinositol-phospholipase C. These results suggest that the Q8b product, unlike the predominant forms of Qa-2-bearing molecules, is not anchored via phosphatidylinositol to the cell membrane. These results also suggest that Q8b has the potential to contribute to the Qa-2 phenotype in vivo.