Analysis of hybridoma mutants defective in synthesis of immunoglobulin M

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Abstract
Hybridoma mutants defective in the expression of IgM have been analyzed by molecular and somatic cell hybridization techniques. The frequency of κ light-chain mutants in the hybridoma PC7 was much higher than for other cell lines. In contrast to the mutations which we observed previously, the κ mutants examined here resulted from complete or partial deletion of the κ gene. Mutants defective in μ chain synthesis were of more diverse types including deletions, gross rearrangements, and more subtle changes. One mutant containing acis -acting mutation resulting in reduced expression of the μ chain had an associated partial duplication of the μ gene, while others making low or undetectable levels of μ had no gross alterations in genetic structure. The usefulness of this approach to the study of gene structure and expression is discussed.