J genes for heavy chain immunoglobulins of mouse

A 15,8-kilobase pair fragment of BALB/c mouse liver DNA, cloned in the Charon 4A lambda phage vector system, was shown to contain the mu heavy chain constant region (CHmu) gene for the mouse immunoglobulin M. In addition, this fragment of DNA contains at least two J genes, used to code for the carboxyl terminal portion of heavy chain variable regions. These genes are located in genomic DNA about eight kilobase pairs to the 5' side of the CHmu gene. The complete nucleotide sequence of a 1120-base pair stretch of DNA that includes the two J genes has been determined.