Human immunoglobulin C lambda 6 gene encodes the Kern+Oz-lambda chain and C lambda 4 and C lambda 5 are pseudogenes

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1987 Dec;84(24):9074-8. doi: 10.1073/pnas.84.24.9074.

Abstract

Six nonallelic immunoglobulin lambda constant region genes have been previously characterized on a 40-kilobase stretch of DNA. The nucleotide sequences of the three upstream genes of this cluster (C lambda 1, C lambda 2, C lambda 3) have been determined by other workers and shown to encode, respectively, the isotypic Mcg, Kern-Oz-, and Kern-Oz+ constant region of the lambda chains. In this paper, we report the sequence of the three downstream genes of this cluster and show that two of them (C lambda 4 and C lambda 5) are pseudogenes. However, C lambda 6 encodes a Kern+Oz- chain and corresponds to the fourth isotype described among the lambda proteins sequenced so far. A potentially active J lambda (joining) segment, with the canonical heptamer and nonamer sequences for rearrangement, is located 1.5 kilobases upstream of C lambda 6. The amino acid sequence encoded by the C lambda 6 gene is compared with the constant region sequences of various monoclonal Bence Jones lambda proteins. Allotypic and isotypic differences confirm the polymorphism and complexity of the human C lambda locus.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Base Sequence
  • Chromosome Mapping
  • Genes, Immunoglobulin*
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin Allotypes / genetics*
  • Immunoglobulin Constant Regions / genetics*
  • Immunoglobulin lambda-Chains / genetics*
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Multigene Family
  • Pseudogenes
  • Regulatory Sequences, Nucleic Acid

Substances

  • Immunoglobulin Allotypes
  • Immunoglobulin Constant Regions
  • Immunoglobulin lambda-Chains

Associated data

  • GENBANK/J03009
  • GENBANK/J03010
  • GENBANK/J03011
  • GENBANK/M18337
  • GENBANK/M18338