Inherited chi chain polymorphism in mouse antibodies to phenyloxazolone

Mice of several but not all strains produce antibodies of restricted heterogeneity (public idiotype) against hapten 2-phenyl-oxazolone (phOx). This public idiotype is controlled by an allotype-linked gene in crosses between BALB/c and C57BL mice. RF mice do not produce the idiotype although allotype c strain, DBA/2, does. We studied whether the RF strain is negative for the idiotype because of an unsuitable H chain repertoire or an unsuitable L chain repertoire. Our breeding experiments indicate that the H chain repertoire of RF mice can support synthesis of the public idiotype but the L chain repertoire cannot.