title: Genomic DNA encoding rabbit T cell receptor beta-chains: isotypes and allotypes of C beta.
abstract: We have discovered sequence differences in DNA encoding the first exon of rabbit T cell receptor beta-chains from unrelated rabbits that probably reflect allelic C beta 1 allotypes. Rabbit I was from a colony bred to maintain the K1-expression mutation Basilea, and rabbit II was from a colony bred to maintain the K1b9 allotype. Genomic DNA from rabbits I and II also exhibit restriction fragment length polymorphism of C beta on Southern blots. In addition, several different restriction enzyme digests of DNA from rabbit I give three bands, whereas DNA from rabbit II gives two when probed with C beta. An approximately 14-kb cloned genomic DNA fragment from rabbit I has two copies of C beta exon 1 and a 6-kb fragment has a third copy, suggesting that rabbit I has three different C beta genes. The DNA sequence of a germ-line genomic DNA fragment encoding the first exon of the beta-chain constant region from rabbit I also has an open reading frame encoding 140 amino acids immediately 5' of the C beta sequence. A corresponding sequence had previously been found in a cDNA clone from the second rabbit (rabbit II).
mesh_terms: D000483:Alleles; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D005091:Exons; D005796:Genes; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D011817:Rabbits; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000235:genetics*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell