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Serologic and chemical differentiation of human lambda III light chain variable regions.
M Eulitz1, C Murphy, D T Weiss
1Department of Medicine, University of Tennessee Medical Center, Knoxville 37920.
Journal of Immunology (Baltimore, Md. : 1950)
|May 1, 1991
Summary
Human lambda L chains (V lambda III) are classified into three subgroups: V lambda IIIa, V lambda IIIb, and V lambda IIIc. This study correlates serological and chemical data, revealing distinct germline genes for each subgroup.
Area of Science:
- Immunogenetics
- Molecular Biology
- Protein Chemistry
Background:
- Human immunoglobulin lambda light chains (L chains) are crucial for antibody diversity.
- The V lambda III subgroup represents a major group of human lambda L chains.
- Previous studies have initiated the characterization of V lambda III diversity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To serologically and chemically differentiate human V lambda III L chains into distinct sub-subgroups.
- To correlate serological classifications with amino acid sequence data.
- To elucidate the genetic basis of V lambda III diversity.
Main Methods:
- Development and application of specific antisera against V lambda III Bence Jones proteins.
- Comparative immunodiffusion analyses of monoclonal lambda III L chains.
- Determination and analysis of amino acid sequences of V lambda III L chains.
Main Results:
- Three distinct V lambda III sub-subgroups (V lambda IIIa, V lambda IIIb, V lambda IIIc) were identified serologically.
- High sequence homology (approx. 83%) was observed within each sub-subgroup.
- Sub-subgroup-specific residues were identified in framework and complementarity determining regions.
Conclusions:
- The serological and chemical data strongly support the existence of at least three distinct V lambda III germline genes.
- These genes encode the identified lambda IIIa, lambda IIIb, and lambda IIIc L chains.
- This provides a detailed understanding of the genetic organization of the human V lambda III locus.