Abstract
The gene segments encoding the constant and variable regions of human immunoglobulin light chains of the κ type (Cκ, Vκ) have been localized to chromosome 2 (refs 1, 2). The distance between the Cκ and Vκ genes and the number of germline Vκ genes are unknown. As part of our work on the human Vκ locus (refs 3–6 and reviewed in ref. 7), we have now mapped two solitary Vκ gene and a cluster of three Vκ genes to chromosomes 1, 15 and 22, respectively. The three genes that have been sequenced are non-processed pseudogenes, and the same may be true for the other two genes. This is the first time that V-gene segments have been found outside the C-gene-containing chromosomes. Our finding is relevant to current estimates of the size of the Vκ-gene repertoire. Furthermore, the dispersed gene regions have some unusual characteristics which may help to clarify the mechanism of dispersion.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
McBride, O. W. et al. J. exp. Med. 155, 1480–1490 (1982).
Malcolm, S. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 79, 4957–4961 (1982).
Jaenichen, H. R., Pech, M., Lindenmaier, W., Wildgruber, N. & Zachau, H. G. Nucleic Acids Res. 12, 5249–5263 (1984).
Pech, M. et al. J. molec. Biol. 176, 189–204 (1984).
Pech, M. & Zachau, H. G. Nucleic Acids Res. 12, 9229–9236 (1984).
Pech, M. et al. J. molec. Biol. 183, 291–299 (1985).
Zachau, H. G. et al. Hoppe-Seyler's Z. physiol. Chem. 365, 1363–1373 (1984).
Klobeck, H. G., Solomon, A. & Zachau, H. G. Nature 309, 73–76 (1984).
Klobeck, H. G. et al. Nucleic Acids Res. 13, 6515–6529 (1985).
Sakano, H., Hüppi, K., Heinrich, G. & Tonegawa, S. Nature 280, 288–294 (1979).
Max, E. E., Seidman, J. G. & Leder, P. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 76, 3450–3454 (1979).
Breathnach, R. & Chambon, P. A. Rev. Biochem. 50, 349–383 (1981).
Kabat, E. A., Wu, T. T., Bilofsky, H., Reid-Miller, M. & Perry, H. Sequences of Proteins of Immunological Interest (National Institutes of Health, Bethesda 1983).
Bentley, D. L. & Rabbitts, T. H. Nature 288, 730–733 (1980).
Weiss, E. H. et al. Nature 310, 650–655 (1984).
Vanin, E. F. Biochim. biophys. Acta. 782, 231–241 (1984).
Hollis, G. F., Hieter, P. A., McBride, O. W., Swan, D. & Leder, P. Nature 296, 321–325 (1982).
Battey, J., Max, E. E., McBride, W. O., Swan, D. & Leder, P. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 79, 5956–5960 (1982).
Ueda, S., Nakai, S., Nishida, Y., Hisajima, H. & Honjo, T. EMBO J. 1, 1539–1544 (1982).
D'Eustachio, P. & Ruddle, F. H. Science 220, 919–924 (1983).
Messing, J. J. Meth. Enzym. 101, 20–78 (1983).
Lötscher, E. thesis, Univ. Munich (in preparation).
Pohlenz, H. D. thesis, Univ. Munich (1986).
Straubinger, B. thesis, Univ. Munich (1986).
Bauer, H. G. thesis, Univ. Munich (1986).
Straubinger, B. et al. Nucleic Acids Res. 12, 5265–5275 (1984).
Balazs, I., Purrello, M. Kurnit, D. M. Grzeschik, K. H. & Siniscalco, M. in Somatic Cell molec. Genet. 10, 385–397 (1984).
Camerino, G. et al. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 81, 498–502 (1984).
Zabel, B. U., Naylor, S. L., Grzeschik, K. H. & Sakaguchi, A. Y., Somatic Cell molec Genet. 10, 105–108 (1984).
Sanger, F., Coulson, A. R., Barrell, B. G., Smith, A. J. H. & Roe, B. A. J. molec. Biol. 143, 161–178 (1980).
Falkner, F. G. & Zachau, H. G. Nature 310, 71–74 (1984).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Lötscher, E., Grzeschik, KH., Bauer, H. et al. Dispersed human immunoglobulin κ light-chain genes. Nature 320, 456–458 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1038/320456a0
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/320456a0
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.
