The mouse Igh-1a and Igh-1b H chain constant regions are derived from two distinct isotypic genes

Genetic and structural analyses of the mouse genes encoding constant region of immunoglobulin subclass (Igh-C) have shown that recombination is rare within this cluster which is inherited as a set designated the Igh haplotype. Recent molecular analyses have demonstrated that either DNA exchanges or gene duplications have probably occurred during the evolution of this set of genes. In order to assess the generality of the duplication processes, the presence and expression of two allelic forms of the Igh-1 (gamma 2a) gene (Igh-1a and Igh-1b) were examined in a large panel of wild mice belonging to Mus musculus domesticus and Mus musculus musculus species. Our data indicate that certain M. m. domesticus animals and most animals in the M. m. musculus group coexpress the two allelic forms of Igh-1. Moreover, genetic studies show that these two immunoglobulin types are encoded by tandemly arranged genes. We propose that wild mice, from which laboratory mice are derived, carry three isotypic gamma 2 genes (Igh-1a, Igh-1b, Igh-3), and these have given rise to the two isotypes seen in laboratory strains by a deletion/insertion mechanism.