title: Allotypy of the rabbit kappa 2 light chain: evidence that the kappa 2 isotype is expressed by all members of the rabbit species.
abstract: The rabbit kappa 2 light chain subtype was described after isolation of the Basilea mutant strain, which does not express the kappa 1 subtype; antibodies raised in domestic rabbits against the Basilea kappa 2 chain recognized antigenic determinants present in Basilea strain rabbits and in some wild Oryctolagus cuniculus individuals. Some authors have proposed that the kappa 2 isotype is expressed in some individuals and is silent in others. The results presented here provide immunochemical and genetic evidence that the kappa 2 isotype presents at least two allotypic forms, bas 1 (equivalent to bas+) and bas 2 (equivalent to the so-called bas-), which are expressed in low levels in all members of the rabbit species. In addition, preliminary data on the expression of the bas 2 allotype in some hares (Lepus capensis) are reported. On the basis of these results, the rules guiding the selection of kappa 1 and kappa 2 isotypic light chain expression in this species may now be approached.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Marrakchi
authors.forename: A B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Gaaied
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Roland
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Cazenave
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000835:Animals, Wild; D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic / Q000032:analysis; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D001667:Binding, Competitive; D007126:Immunoglobulin Allotypes / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D007145:Immunoglobulin kappa-Chains / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010375:Pedigree; D010641:Phenotype; D010802:Phylogeny; D011817:Rabbits; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic; D007126:Immunoglobulin Allotypes; D007145:Immunoglobulin kappa-Chains