Sequences at the somatic recombination sites of immunoglobulin light-chain genes.
The entire nucleotide sequence of a 1.7-kilobase embryonic DNA fragment containing five joining (J) DNA segments for mouse immunoglobulin kappa chain gene has been determined. Each J DNA segment can encode amino acid residues 96--108. Comparison of one of the five J DNA sequences with those of an embryonic variable (V) gene and a complete kappa chain gene permitted localisation of a precise recombination site. The 5'-flanking regions of J DNA segments could form an inverted stem structure with the 3'-non-coding region of embryonic V genes. This hypothetical structure and gel-blotting analysis of total embryo and myeloma DNA suggest that the somatic recombination may be accompanied by excision of an entire DNA segment between a V gene and a J DNA segment. Antibody diversity may in part be generated by modulation of the precise recombination sites.
D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics; D005796:Genes; D005815:Genetic Code; D007147:Immunoglobulin Light Chains / Q000235:genetics*; D007145:Immunoglobulin kappa-Chains / Q000235:genetics; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008814:Mice, Inbred NZB; D009194:Myeloma Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D009374:Neoplasms, Experimental; D011995:Recombination, Genetic
D007147:Immunoglobulin Light Chains; D007145:Immunoglobulin kappa-Chains; D009194:Myeloma Proteins; D004247:DNA