Expression of an immunoglobulin heavy chain gene transfected into lymphocytes.
We determined that mouse lymphoid cell lines can be transfected at high efficiencies (10-70%) by a polyoma virus shuttle vector. With this vector, we obtained expression of a cloned mouse alpha heavy chain gene transfected into cell lines representative of all stages in B-lymphocyte development, a T-cell lymphoma line, and 3T3 fibroblasts. Heavy chain gene expression in transfected light chain-producing myeloma cells occurred at levels comparable to those in IgA-secreting myeloma cells. Heavy chains produced in transfected myeloma cells were associated with light chains in membrane-bound IgA. While T-lymphoma cells and fibroblasts were transfected at similar efficiencies to B cells, significantly lower levels of alpha heavy chains were produced. This immunoglobulin gene transfection system provides a powerful approach for defining important regulatory regions in immunoglobulin genes and for identifying lymphoid cell factors involved in immunoglobulin gene expression in B-lymphocyte development.
D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004262:DNA Restriction Enzymes; D005796:Genes; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000235:genetics; D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains / Q000235:genetics*; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D011120:Polyomavirus / Q000235:genetics; D014162:Transfection
D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains; D004262:DNA Restriction Enzymes