title: IgA half molecules. II. Genetic variants of IgA detected in normal mouse intestinal contents.
abstract: Six two chain IgA myeloma proteins are found to have very similar molecular weights and to share immunochemical characteristics suggesting that they represent examples of an unusually small-sized variant of normal mouse IgA. With the use of homologous antiserums in 2-dimensional double diffusion and hemagglutination inhibition, small amounts of this unusual IgA were detected in normal BALB/c intestinal contents. Gel filtration of the intestinal contents suggests that these gut immunoglobulins A exist in a size consistent with a single light chain plus a single heavy chain and can be regarded as IgA "half molecules" or IgAb. We feel that IgAb represents a normal variant of mouse IgA, but the possibility of its being a second mouse IgG subclass is discussed.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002850:Chromatography, Gel; D005260:Female; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005779:Immunodiffusion; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000032:analysis*; D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains; D007422:Intestines / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008814:Mice, Inbred NZB; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D008970:Molecular Weight; D009194:Myeloma Proteins / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains; D009194:Myeloma Proteins