Structural correlates of mouse IgA allotypes

A set of mouse IgAs containing amino acids differing amongst the six alpha-chain allotypes was constructed by mutating an S107-IgA plasmid and transfecting it into a non-producer myeloma cell line along with a kappa-chain plasmid. The secreted IgAs were examined for their possession of a covalent bond between alpha- and light (L)-chains and for their ability to bind to three anti-allotypic monoclonal antibodies, HIS-M2, HY-15, and HY-16. IgA of the Igh-2(a) allotype was found to be unique in its total lack of a covalent bond between alpha and L: -chains, formation of which apparently depends on the presence of an "extra" Cys in the hinges of all of the other five allotypes. The allotypic epitopes are associated with identifiable amino acids in the Calpha1 region of the molecule. Binding to HIS-M2 requires Ala 216 whereas binding to HY-15 requires Pro 216 and Asp 222. Binding to Hy-16 requires Arg 183 and either Pro 216 or Ser 216 but not Ala 216. However, binding to HY-16 by all of the IgAs produced by transfectants is impaired by defective glycosylation in the transfected myeloma and is only revealed after deglycosylation.