The proteins encoded by the VpreB and lambda 5 pre-B cell-specific genes can associate with each other and with mu heavy chain.
The murine pre-B cell-specific genes VpreB and lambda 5, as well as the murine gene for mu heavy chain, were introduced into Ltk- fibroblast cells which normally do not express these genes. Stable transfectants carrying these genes produced the corresponding proteins of 15.5, 21.5, and 75 kD. They secreted the three proteins as a triple complex that could be immunoprecipitated by mu heavy chain-specific antibodies, consisting of one VpreB, one lambda 5, and one mu heavy chain. The mu heavy chain and lambda 5 were disulfide-bonded with each other, while the VpreB protein was noncovalently associated. These experiments proved that the VpreB, lambda 5 and mu H chain proteins can form a heavy/light chain-like heterocomplex.
Karasuyama
H
H
Basel Institute for Immunology, CH-4005, Switzerland.
Kudo
A
A
Melchers
F
F
D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D002872:Chromosome Deletion; D005803:Genes, Immunoglobulin; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D007135:Immunoglobulin Variable Region / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D007146:Immunoglobulin lambda-Chains / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D007148:Immunoglobulin mu-Chains / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D007739:L Cells / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D010957:Plasmids; D015183:Restriction Mapping; D014162:Transfection
D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains; D007135:Immunoglobulin Variable Region; D007146:Immunoglobulin lambda-Chains; D007148:Immunoglobulin mu-Chains