title: Amino acid sequence based PCR primers for amplification of rearranged human heavy and light chain immunoglobulin variable region genes.
abstract: Previously described primers for PCR amplification of variable immunoglobulin (Ig) genes were based on gene sequences. To include the large number of amino acid sequences of antibodies whose DNA has not been sequenced and to ensure a maximal fit to rearranged human Ig variable region genes, we have made a comprehensive comparison of both protein and nucleotide sequences. The resulting set of 15 primers was able to amplify a wide range of rearranged antibody variable region genes. Restriction sites included in the primers facilitate cloning of the PCR products into various expression vectors. Sequence analyses of PCR-amplified cDNA derived from a polyclonal B cell population showed that maximal enrichment is obtained for highly represented variable Ig gene subgroups. Rarely occurring V kappa 4 and V lambda 5 subgroups were not detected. Rearranged Ig variable region genes from each of 19 human B cell lines were also amplified. Comparisons to germline sequences allowed the allocation of rearranged genes to the original Ig genes. This primer set should be very useful for generating large repertoires of rearranged V genes and for amplifying genes of individual B cell clones.
authors.affiliation: Department of Transplantation Immunology, University of Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Welschof
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Terness
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kolbinger
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zewe
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dübel
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dörsam
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hain
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Finger
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Moldenhauer
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001483:Base Sequence; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D016384:Consensus Sequence; D017931:DNA Primers; D015322:Gene Rearrangement, B-Lymphocyte; D005803:Genes, Immunoglobulin; D006801:Humans; D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains / Q000235:genetics*; D007147:Immunoglobulin Light Chains / Q000235:genetics*; D007135:Immunoglobulin Variable Region / Q000235:genetics*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D015183:Restriction Mapping; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains; D007147:Immunoglobulin Light Chains; D007135:Immunoglobulin Variable Region