Evolution of the rabbit immunoglobulin kappa chain genes

We have analyzed the organization and the structure of rabbit kappa chain genes encoding b allotypes in wild rabbits. The kappa 1 gene of the b95 allotype was cloned and its structure determined. The J region is composed of five segments but only J2 appears to be functional and is identical to the J2 segment of the b4 allotype. The J region is highly conserved among the various b allotypes, whereas the constant region exon displays a high level of differences when compared with other allotypes (9%-30% of different amino acids). The b95 J region is closer to that of b4var and the constant region to b5 allotype constant region. Alignment of nucleotide sequences revealed that the constant region exon displays segmental similarities with b4 and bas constant regions. The mosaic structure of b95 allotype gene indicates that complex allotypes of kappa 1 genes may result from genetic exchanges or gene conversion between the different kappa genes.