Exon shuffling generates an immunoglobulin heavy chain gene.

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Abstract
From endonuclease EcoRI partial libraries of DNA from mouse embryo and MOPC 141, a .gamma.2b-producing myeloma, clones were isolated by using a DNA fragment carrying the .gamma.2b constant (C) region gene as a hybridization probe. One clone from MOPC 141 contained a H chain variable (V) gene and the C.gamma.2b gene, as demonstrated by R-loop mapping. The V gene and C gene in this clone were separated by a 3.9 kbase intron. The characterization of this clone and the embryonic clones suggest that at least 2 recombination events occurred to create the .gamma.2b gene in MOPC 141. One of the events is analogous to the V-J [joining region] joining previously demonstrated in the L chain genes, which brings the major part of the V gene next to a short coding sequence (J). The other event was the C.mu.-C.gamma.2b switch recombination because a portion of the intron between the V gene and C gene of the rearranged .gamma.2b gene is derived from the 5'' flanking sequence of the embryonic C.mu. gene. A model suggesting how the phenomenon of switch seen in lymphocytes may occur is presented.