title: The adaptable somatic repertoire.
abstract: Somatic mutation introduces singles nucleotide substitutions in and around the rearranged kappa variable gene, Vk167, but not the constant gene. The high frequency of mutations is most easily explained by a mechanism of error-prone repair which occurs during several cycles of cell division. Mutations may accumulate with time after joining of the V- and J-gene segments because IgG and IgA antibodies contain more amino acid substitutions than IgM antibodies. Many variant anti-phosphorylcholine antibodies have a higher affinity for antigen than their germ-line-encoded counterparts.
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000916:Antibody Diversity; D001483:Base Sequence; D004260:DNA Repair; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000235:genetics; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000235:genetics; D007147:Immunoglobulin Light Chains / Q000235:genetics*; D007145:Immunoglobulin kappa-Chains / Q000235:genetics*; D051379:Mice; D009154:Mutation; D010767:Phosphorylcholine / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007147:Immunoglobulin Light Chains; D007145:Immunoglobulin kappa-Chains; D010767:Phosphorylcholine