The role of rabbit immunoglobulin allotypes in an immune network

The expression of latent allotypes is a well documented phenomenon in rabbits. Speculation about their molecular genetic basis and the mechanisms that control expression of these unexpected markers lead inevitably to questions about the Ig gene complement of the rabbit. This central question is under current study using probes derived originally from the mRNA of rabbit-mouse hybridomas secreting rabbit Ig chains. Some of the basic features of rabbit Ig genes are already clear from these studies, and DNA fragments that might encode latent allotypes have been identified with the first set of probes. Further gene closing sequencing should shortly provide a definitive answer to the question of latent allotypy and will also provide a detailed understanding of nominal Ig expression in rabbits.