A conserved human germline V kappa gene directly encodes rheumatoid factor light chains.
The full-length gene that encodes the light chain variable regions of an idiotypically related group of human IgM kappa rheumatoid factors (RFs) has been cloned and sequenced. The deduced amino acid sequence is identical to four separate RF proteins. These results prove that genes capable of encoding human anti-IgG autoantibody light chains without any somatic mutation are present in the kappa gene repertoire of normal people.
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D001483:Base Sequence; D004262:DNA Restriction Enzymes / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007147:Immunoglobulin Light Chains / Q000235:genetics*; D007135:Immunoglobulin Variable Region / Q000235:genetics*; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor / Q000235:genetics*
D001323:Autoantibodies; D007147:Immunoglobulin Light Chains; D007135:Immunoglobulin Variable Region; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor; D004262:DNA Restriction Enzymes