Murine T-cell receptor mutants with deletions of beta-chain variable region genes

Genomic Southern blots of DNA from eight strains of mice were examined for restriction fragment length polymorphisms in their loci encoding the variable region of the T-cell receptor beta chain (V beta), using 16 different V beta-specific probes. Mouse strains BALB/c, C57BL/6, C3H, and PL were identical, while strains SJL, C57BR, C57L, and SWR shared several polymorphisms with respect to the other four strains. In addition, SJL, C57L, C57BR, and SWR DNAs were missing 50% of the hybridizing bands visualized in BALB/c DNA. A cDNA library from concanavalin A-stimulated SJL spleen blasts was constructed and examined for V beta gene usage. Ten genes were found to account for all V beta-containing clones isolated, including three newly identified V beta genes. All 10 of these genes were found to be present in BALB/c mice. We conclude that SJL, C57L, C57BR, and SWR mice represent V beta deletion mutants of the BALB/c genotype.