Amino acid sequence of the variable region of the light (lambda) chain from human myeloma cryoimmunoglobulin IgG Hil

We have determined the complete amino acid sequence of the variable region of the light (lambda) chain from a human myeloma cryoimmunoglobulin (IgG Hil), the Fab fragment from which has been previously crystallized. The presence of unblocked alpha-amino terminal residue and the isolation of a CNBr fragment starting at position 46 and of a maleylated tryptic fragment spanning residues 61 to 189 provided three suitable starting points for automatic Edman degradation. In addition, tryptic peptides and chymotryptic subpeptides covering the whole extension of the light chain were obtained and characterized to further verify the sequence of the variable region and the established sequence of the constant region. The proposed sequence of the variable region indicates that it may be assigned to subgroup III. Positions 152 (serine) and 189 (arginine) correspond to the isotypic markers Kern- and Oz-, respectively. In addition, a novel substitution has been detected in the constant region where at position 155 isoleucine replaces the usually occurring valine.