title: A critical role of lambda 5 protein in B cell development.
abstract: The lambda 5 gene is a homolog of immunoglobulin J lambda-C lambda genes, expressed specifically in immature B-lineage cells. Lambda 5-encoded molecules form membrane complexes with mu or D mu proteins in association with an additional protein specifically expressed in immature B cells that is encoded by the Vpre-B gene. We have generated mice in which the lambda 5 gene is inactivated by targeted gene disruption in embryonic stem cells. In these mice, B cell development in the bone marrow is blocked at the pre-B cell stage. However, the blockade is leaky, allowing B cells to populate the peripheral immune system at a low rate. These cells are allelically excluded and able to respond to antigen.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Genetics, University of Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kitamura
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kudo
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schaal
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Müller
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Melchers
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rajewsky
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology; D001483:Base Sequence; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005803:Genes, Immunoglobulin / Q000235:genetics*; D006412:Hematopoietic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007127:Immunoglobulin Constant Regions / Q000235:genetics*; D007133:Immunoglobulin Joining Region / Q000235:genetics*; D007135:Immunoglobulin Variable Region / Q000235:genetics; D007146:Immunoglobulin lambda-Chains / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016254:Mutagenesis, Insertional; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D009355:Neomycin / Q000494:pharmacology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011995:Recombination, Genetic / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D007127:Immunoglobulin Constant Regions; D007133:Immunoglobulin Joining Region; D007135:Immunoglobulin Variable Region; D007146:Immunoglobulin lambda-Chains; D009355:Neomycin