Complexity, polymorphism, and connectivity of mouse V k gene families

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
To define the polymorphism and extent of the mouse immunoglobulin kappa (Igk) gene complex, we have analyzed restriction-enzyme digested genomic DNA from 33 inbred strains of mice with labeled DNA probes corresponding to 16 V x protein groups (1 of them previously undescribed) and the J k/C K region (V, variable; J, joining; C, constant). These probes detected between 1 and 25 distinct restriction enzyme fragments (REF) that appeared in up to eight polymorphic patterns, thus defining eight mouse Jgk haplotypes. The investigated portion of the V A repertoire was estimated to encompass between 60 and 120 discernable V k gene-containing REFs. In contrast to mouse V H gene families, several V k gene families defined by these probes appeared to overlap. This observation has implications for V k gene analyses by nucleic acid hybridization and raises the possibility that the V A gene complex is a continuum of related sequences.