SYNTHESIS AND ASSEMBLY OF IMMUNOGLOBULINS BY MALIGNANT HUMAN PLASMACYTES

Abstract
Three basic patterns of γ-globulin synthesis are described in malignant human plasmacytes: extreme unbalanced synthesis where only L chains are synthesized; unbalanced synthesis in which intact γG globulin and an excess of free L chains are synthesized and secreted; and balanced synthesis where H and L chains appear to be synthesized in equimolar amounts. Studies of the cellular products appear to reflect the biosynthetic processes of the cells in a more reliable fashion than does analysis of serum or urinary proteins.