title: Germline VH genes in an a3 rabbit not typical of any one VHa allotype.
abstract: We have undertaken investigations in the rabbit of VH genes that may be responsible for the observations of VHa allotypes unexpected from an animal's pedigree (latent allotypes). A short cDNA probe was prepared and shown to be specific for VHa2 mRNA. Southern analyses with short and large probes were unrevealing but screening of a lambda phage library from a VHa3-expressing animal identified a number of unusual genes. These VH genes are remarkable in that they are far closer to one another in the genome (in one case 3085 bps) than VH genes reported in mouse or man, they are highly homologous over long stretches of sequence, and they encode proteins not typical of any one VHa allotype. Proteins similar to the sort encoded by these genomic V-regions may explain some of the observations of latent allotype. Our data suggest that the allelic behavior of VHa allotypes is not due to allelism of a regulatory mechanism that acts upon identical VH genes in rabbits of different VHa phenotypes.
authors.forename: K E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Bernstein
authors.forename: C B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Alexander
authors.forename: R G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Mage
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000916:Antibody Diversity; D001483:Base Sequence; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics; D004262:DNA Restriction Enzymes; D005796:Genes; D005815:Genetic Code; D007126:Immunoglobulin Allotypes / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains / Q000235:genetics*; D007135:Immunoglobulin Variable Region / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D011817:Rabbits; D013094:Spermatozoa
chemical_list: D007126:Immunoglobulin Allotypes; D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains; D007135:Immunoglobulin Variable Region; D004247:DNA; D004262:DNA Restriction Enzymes