title: Mouse V lambda x gene sequence generates no junctional diversity and is conserved in mammalian species.
abstract: The lambda x, a new mouse Ig lambda L chain, is produced by rearrangement of the V lambda x, J lambda 2, and C lambda 2 gene segments. The V lambda x amino acid sequence is as divergent to other V lambda as to Vk gene sequences. Additionally, its third hypervariable region (CDR3) is four amino acids longer than those of all other variable gene segments of murine L chain. We have cloned and sequenced the germ-line V lambda x gene and found that the unexpected CDR3 length is encoded by the V lambda x gene. Junctional diversity is prevented by a TAA termination codon localized at the V lambda x 3' extremity. Moreover, we show a striking conservation of the V lambda x sequence in various mammalian species. Portions of the V lambda x sequence display more than 70% of nucleotide sequence identity with rabbit and human variable regions. These results suggest that V lambda x predated the divergence of mammalian species.
authors.affiliation: Département d'Immunologie, Institut Pasteur (CNRS 359 and Université Pierre et Marie Curie) Paris France.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sanchez
authors.forename: P N
authors.initials: PN
authors.lastname: Marche
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rueff-Juy
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Cazenave
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000916:Antibody Diversity; D001483:Base Sequence; D015139:Blotting, Southern; D005803:Genes, Immunoglobulin; D006801:Humans; D007135:Immunoglobulin Variable Region / Q000235:genetics*; D007146:Immunoglobulin lambda-Chains / Q000235:genetics*; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011817:Rabbits; D051381:Rats; D011995:Recombination, Genetic; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D007135:Immunoglobulin Variable Region; D007146:Immunoglobulin lambda-Chains