Organization of immunoglobulin genes.
The nucleotide-sequence determination of a cloned, embryonic Vlambda gene directly demonstrated that V genes are separate from a corresponding C gene in embryonic cells. Analysis by restriction enzymes of total cellular DNA from various sources strongly suggested that the two separate immunoglobulin genes become continuous during differentiation of B lymphocytes. There seems to be a strict correlation between the joining event and activation of the joined genes. Cloning of more immunoglobulin genes from embryo and plasma cells will not only provide direct demonstration of such a gene-joining event but also help in the elucidation of a possible relationship of the event to gene activation mechanisms.
D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002460:Cell Line; D003090:Coliphages; D004274:DNA, Recombinant; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000276:immunology; D005796:Genes; D008040:Genetic Linkage; D007135:Immunoglobulin Variable Region; D007145:Immunoglobulin kappa-Chains / Q000235:genetics; D007146:Immunoglobulin lambda-Chains / Q000235:genetics; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000235:genetics*; D051379:Mice; D010950:Plasma Cells / Q000276:immunology
D004274:DNA, Recombinant; D007135:Immunoglobulin Variable Region; D007145:Immunoglobulin kappa-Chains; D007146:Immunoglobulin lambda-Chains; D007136:Immunoglobulins