Two pseudogenes among three rat immunoglobulin lambda chain genes

In order to examine the number and organization of the immunoglobulin lambda light chain genes of the rat, we have used mouse lambda chain cDNA probes to isolate hybridizing fragments from a partial EcoRI rat liver DNA library. We have determined the partial nucleotide sequence of two such clones. One clone, containing a 5.8 kb EcoRI insert which hybridizes to both mouse C lambda 1 and C lambda 2 probes, includes an apparently expressible C lambda 2-like gene as well as a C lambda 1-like pseudogene (psi C lambda 1.1), arranged similarly to the mouse C lambda gene complexes. Sequence analysis of a second cloned EcoRI fragment (1.15 kb in length) revealed part of a second C lambda 1-like pseudogene (psi C lambda 1.2), the coding regions of both pseudogenes being interrupted by multiple frame-shifting size differences. In the case of psi C lambda 1.2, the degree of sequence identity with mouse C lambda 1 drops abruptly immediately following the termination codon, suggesting that translocation events have played a role in its generation. These two rat pseudogenes, and the mouse C lambda 4 pseudogene, clearly have been rendered unexpressible by separate evolutionary events. Comparisons between C lambda coding and non-coding regions of rats and mice indicate that some of the unusual patterns of divergence we have observed in recently diverged Ck genes may exist in C lambda genes as well.