Genetic polymorphism of mouse immunoglobulin light chains revealed by isoelectric focusing

Light chains isolated from normal immunoglobulin of unimmunized mice were analyzed by gel isoelectric focusing. Examination of the focusing patterns of light chains from nine inbred mouse strains showed that six of the strains (SWR/J, C3H/HeJ, DBA/1J, A/J, CBA/J, and C57BL/6J) possessed a virtually identical spectrum of focusing bands, while the remaining three strains (RF/J, AKR/J, and C58/J) showed clear differences involving several bands. Analysis of the light chains of individual SWR/J, C58/J, and F1 hybrid mice indicated that the differences in focusing pattern were inherited in a simple codominant fashion. A new procedure was developed for the rapid analysis of light chains from small quantities of serum.