The Ig heavy chain switch region is a hotspot for insertion of transfected DNA

The Ig heavy chain class switch usually occurs by breaking and rejoining DNA in the switch (S) regions, which consist of tandemly repeated sequences 5' of the constant region exons. Various studies have suggested that S DNA can also recombine with non-S sequences. To measure the frequency of such recombination events, the hybridoma cell line igm692, a deletion mutant that lacks the C mu 1 and C mu 2 exons and the 3' end of the S mu region, was transfected with a fragment bearing the C mu 1-2 exons, but no S mu DNA. Insertion of this fragment into the residual VDJ-C mu intron of igm692 can restore a functional mu gene, yielding a transformant that is detected as a plaque-forming cell (PFC). PFC comprise approximately 8 x 10(-7) of the surviving transfected cells. In 10 of 12 PFCs, the C mu 1-2 fragment inserted into the 2.5-kb residual S mu region, whereas insertion in two cases occurred in the 3.5-kb segment 5' of S mu. Using a PCR assay to measure the frequency of insertion of the transferred fragment elsewhere in the hybridoma genome, we found that approximately 9% of the surviving transfected cells had stably acquired the C mu 1-2 fragment. These results indicate that the S mu region is approximately 100-fold more recombinogenic than the average genomic site, and approximately 7-fold more recombinogenic than the non-S mu segment of the residual VDJ-C mu, i.e., the S mu region is a hotspot for insertion of transfected DNA.

The Ig heavy chain switch region is a hotspot for insertion of transfected DNA

The Ig heavy chain class switch usually occurs by breaking and rejoining DNA in the switch (S) regions, which consist of tandemly repeated sequences 5' of the constant region exons. Various studies have suggested that S DNA can also recombine with non-S sequences. To measure the frequency of such recombination events, the hybridoma cell line igm692, a deletion mutant that lacks the C mu 1 and C mu 2 exons and the 3' end of the S mu region, was transfected with a fragment bearing the C mu 1-2 exons, but no S mu DNA. Insertion of this fragment into the residual VDJ-C mu intron of igm692 can restore a functional mu gene, yielding a transformant that is detected as a plaque-forming cell (PFC). PFC comprise approximately 8 x 10(-7) of the surviving transfected cells. In 10 of 12 PFCs, the C mu 1-2 fragment inserted into the 2.5-kb residual S mu region, whereas insertion in two cases occurred in the 3.5-kb segment 5' of S mu. Using a PCR assay to measure the frequency of insertion of the transferred fragment elsewhere in the hybridoma genome, we found that approximately 9% of the surviving transfected cells had stably acquired the C mu 1-2 fragment. These results indicate that the S mu region is approximately 100-fold more recombinogenic than the average genomic site, and approximately 7-fold more recombinogenic than the non-S mu segment of the residual VDJ-C mu, i.e., the S mu region is a hotspot for insertion of transfected DNA.

Assembly of IgM. Role of disulfide bonding and noncovalent interactions

Polymeric IgM is usually envisaged as an array of mu 2L2 monomers in which the mu heavy chains are held together by disulfide bonds involving cysteines at positions 337, 414, and 575. We have studied the importance of inter-mu-chain disulfide bonds for formation of IgM polymers and monomers by analyzing the effects of eliminating one or more of these disulfide bondings. Ablation of all inter-chain bonds by either chemical reduction and alkylation or by mutagenesis resulted in the exclusive production of halfmers (muL) molecules. IgM composed of mu-chains bearing each of the other six possible combinations of cysteine to serine replacements was produced as different mixtures of polymers, monomers, and halfmers. Cysteine 575 was both necessary and sufficient for efficient assembly of IgM polymers and sufficient but not necessary for efficient assembly of monomers. Cysteine 337 was sufficient but not necessary for efficient assembly of monomers, and was neither sufficient nor necessary for formation of polymers. Cysteine 414 was neither necessary nor sufficient for efficient formation of either monomers or polymers. Data also suggest that noncovalent interactions between C mu 2 domains are stronger than the interactions between C mu 4/tail domains.

Assembly of IgM. Role of disulfide bonding and noncovalent interactions

Polymeric IgM is usually envisaged as an array of mu 2L2 monomers in which the mu heavy chains are held together by disulfide bonds involving cysteines at positions 337, 414, and 575. We have studied the importance of inter-mu-chain disulfide bonds for formation of IgM polymers and monomers by analyzing the effects of eliminating one or more of these disulfide bondings. Ablation of all inter-chain bonds by either chemical reduction and alkylation or by mutagenesis resulted in the exclusive production of halfmers (muL) molecules. IgM composed of mu-chains bearing each of the other six possible combinations of cysteine to serine replacements was produced as different mixtures of polymers, monomers, and halfmers. Cysteine 575 was both necessary and sufficient for efficient assembly of IgM polymers and sufficient but not necessary for efficient assembly of monomers. Cysteine 337 was sufficient but not necessary for efficient assembly of monomers, and was neither sufficient nor necessary for formation of polymers. Cysteine 414 was neither necessary nor sufficient for efficient formation of either monomers or polymers. Data also suggest that noncovalent interactions between C mu 2 domains are stronger than the interactions between C mu 4/tail domains.

C1q binding properties of monomer and polymer forms of mouse IgM mu-chain variants. Pro544Gly and Pro434Ala

The effect of replacing proline with alanine at position 434 in the C mu 3 domain (P434A) and with glycine at position 544 in the C mu 4 domain (P544G) of the mu-chain of mouse IgM has been studied. The P434A substitution results in the loss of measurable complement-mediated cytolytic activity (CML) and a decrease in the association rate constant at low ionic strength (mu = 0.06), that results in a diminished Ka for C1q binding to P434A IgM bound to haptenated cells (0.4 x 10(9) M-1). Binding of C1(qr2s2) could not be detected. In contrast, replacement of proline at 544 had no measurable effect on the cytolytic or C1q/C1 binding properties of the polymeric molecule, supporting the view that the C mu 3 domain is important in C1q binding and CML. The secreted monomeric subunit of P544G was not able to mediate CML. Also, whereas hapten-bound P544G polymer bound C1q with a functional affinity of 1.5 x 10(9) M-1 at low ionic strength (mu = 0.06), similar to that observed with wild-type polymer (1.7 x 10(9) M-1) and wild-type IgG monomer (4.7 x 10(9) M-1), no C1q binding was detected with the P544G IgM monomer. This could not be attributed to differences in glycosylation. Inasmuch as the P544G mutation per se had no effect on the C1q binding properties of the polymer, we conclude that unlike IgG, aggregation does not sufficiently enhance the avidity of IgM monomer to enable it to activate complement. Augmentation of the site must occur during polymerization or when the IgM binds to Ag.

C1q binding properties of monomer and polymer forms of mouse IgM mu-chain variants. Pro544Gly and Pro434Ala

The effect of replacing proline with alanine at position 434 in the C mu 3 domain (P434A) and with glycine at position 544 in the C mu 4 domain (P544G) of the mu-chain of mouse IgM has been studied. The P434A substitution results in the loss of measurable complement-mediated cytolytic activity (CML) and a decrease in the association rate constant at low ionic strength (mu = 0.06), that results in a diminished Ka for C1q binding to P434A IgM bound to haptenated cells (0.4 x 10(9) M-1). Binding of C1(qr2s2) could not be detected. In contrast, replacement of proline at 544 had no measurable effect on the cytolytic or C1q/C1 binding properties of the polymeric molecule, supporting the view that the C mu 3 domain is important in C1q binding and CML. The secreted monomeric subunit of P544G was not able to mediate CML. Also, whereas hapten-bound P544G polymer bound C1q with a functional affinity of 1.5 x 10(9) M-1 at low ionic strength (mu = 0.06), similar to that observed with wild-type polymer (1.7 x 10(9) M-1) and wild-type IgG monomer (4.7 x 10(9) M-1), no C1q binding was detected with the P544G IgM monomer. This could not be attributed to differences in glycosylation. Inasmuch as the P544G mutation per se had no effect on the C1q binding properties of the polymer, we conclude that unlike IgG, aggregation does not sufficiently enhance the avidity of IgM monomer to enable it to activate complement. Augmentation of the site must occur during polymerization or when the IgM binds to Ag.

On the linkage between RNA processing and RNA translatability

The immunoglobulin mu heavy chain gene of mouse hybridoma cells is expressed in two forms, microseconds and microns, differing in their use of 3' exons. As for many other mammalian genes, mutations in the mu gene which prematurely terminate translation often have the effect of reducing the amount of these mu RNAs. To test the generality of this relationship, we selected mutant hybridoma cell lines defective in IgM production and searched both for translation termination mutations which do not reduce the amount of mu RNA as well as for mutants which show the more commonly observed reduction in mu RNA. As observed previously, the amount of microseconds RNA is normal in mutants terminating in the C mu 4 exon; by contrast the amount of microns RNA is reduced in these mutants, indicating that the effect of the mutation is influenced by some feature near the 3' end of the RNA. Mutations terminating translation in other C region exons have a graded effect on RNA content, ranging from 10% the normal level for termination in the C mu 3 exon down to 1% for termination in the C mu 2 exon. By contrast, a mutant cell line terminating in the leader exon contained 25% the normal amount of mu RNA, suggesting that translation past some point might be required to fully engage the RNA degradation process.

An improved system of somatic cell molecular genetics for analyzing the requirements of Ig synthesis and function

A general method of relating molecular function and structure is to examine the biological and chemical effects of defined mutations. In many cases, particularly those concerned with the rate or efficiency of gene expression, it is important to assess mutations in the normal chromosomal context. There are two methods of obtaining such mutants: (i) site-directed mutagenesis of the chromosomal locus, using homologous recombination to target defined mutations to the gene of interest, and (ii) phenotypic selection of mutant organisms. For most mammalian genes the rarity of targeted recombinants and phenotypically evident mutants impede the use of either of these approaches. However, various genetic and biochemical features render the Ig heavy chain locus in B cell lines amenable to both gene targeting and phenotypic selection of mutants. We describe here a replacement-type vector in which the selectable marker is an enhancerless gpt gene which is particularly suitable for targeting the IgH locus. Deletion of the enhancer greatly decreased the frequency of gpt+ random transformants while still allowing properly targeted transformants to be gpt+, such that transformants with the predicted recombinant structure comprised 25% of the gpt+ population. Thus, the labor involved in mutagenizing the chromosomal locus using this method is comparable to the usual method of isolating randomly inserted transformants, but offers the important advantages that the copy number and integration site are the same in independent transformants. In the hybridoma cell lines which we have tested, the consistent copy number and integration site are sufficient to yield a uniform level of recombinant gene expression.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Mapping of amino acid residues in the C mu 3 domain of mouse IgM important in macromolecular assembly and complement-dependent cytolysis

By analyzing the effects of single site mutations of a TNP-binding mouse IgM we have identified amino acid residues clustered in two regions in the C mu 3 domain that are important in the complement-dependent cytolytic activity of polymeric IgM. Some of the mutations also impaired IgM polymerization. For one of these clusters, D432G, P434A, and P436S, which lies on the fy2 and fy3 strands and their connecting loop, polymerization was little affected and the effect on the cytolytic activity of the polymer fraction was taken to imply direct involvement of the residue in C1 binding. The other cluster, involving residues D356A K361A and D417G, is situated at the other end of the C mu 3 domain closer to the center of the Fc mu disc. The D356A K361A and D417G mutations significantly impaired polymer formation, suggesting that these residues are necessary for proper folding or packing of the C mu 3 domains and may affect cytolysis only indirectly. Some other mutations had little or no effect on polymerization or cytolytic activity (E423A, E527G), whereas some mutations impaired only IgM polymerization without affecting cytolytic activity (D344A, K361A, K443A P544G). In others the defect in polymerization was so profound that only the monomer formed (H430A/N/Q and K438G). Our results also suggest that the C1 binding site of IgM is not strictly homologous to the C1 binding site of IgG. Although mutation of E318 of IgG has been shown to reduce its cytolytic activity, mutation of the homologous residue in IgM, E423, was without effect as were mutations of other flanking-charged residues. Proline at 436 in IgM and 331 in IgG may, however, be a common element.

Mapping of amino acid residues in the C mu 3 domain of mouse IgM important in macromolecular assembly and complement-dependent cytolysis

By analyzing the effects of single site mutations of a TNP-binding mouse IgM we have identified amino acid residues clustered in two regions in the C mu 3 domain that are important in the complement-dependent cytolytic activity of polymeric IgM. Some of the mutations also impaired IgM polymerization. For one of these clusters, D432G, P434A, and P436S, which lies on the fy2 and fy3 strands and their connecting loop, polymerization was little affected and the effect on the cytolytic activity of the polymer fraction was taken to imply direct involvement of the residue in C1 binding. The other cluster, involving residues D356A K361A and D417G, is situated at the other end of the C mu 3 domain closer to the center of the Fc mu disc. The D356A K361A and D417G mutations significantly impaired polymer formation, suggesting that these residues are necessary for proper folding or packing of the C mu 3 domains and may affect cytolysis only indirectly. Some other mutations had little or no effect on polymerization or cytolytic activity (E423A, E527G), whereas some mutations impaired only IgM polymerization without affecting cytolytic activity (D344A, K361A, K443A P544G). In others the defect in polymerization was so profound that only the monomer formed (H430A/N/Q and K438G). Our results also suggest that the C1 binding site of IgM is not strictly homologous to the C1 binding site of IgG. Although mutation of E318 of IgG has been shown to reduce its cytolytic activity, mutation of the homologous residue in IgM, E423, was without effect as were mutations of other flanking-charged residues. Proline at 436 in IgM and 331 in IgG may, however, be a common element.

Production of mouse V/human C chimeric kappa genes by homologous recombination in hybridoma cells. Analysis of vector design and recombinant gene expression

Homologous recombination between transferred and chromosomal Ig genes in mouse hybridoma cells offers a general method of altering the chromosomal Ig genes in predetermined ways. Recombination is infrequent in hybridoma cells, and we have been interested in improving the methods for identifying and recovering the rare recombinants. We have used vectors that are designed to replace the mouse chromosomal C kappa segment with the human equivalent, so that recombinants produce mouse V/human C chimeric kappa-chains. We describe an enhancerless, replacement type vector that can be used with the herpes thymidine kinase counterselection to provide such enrichment that homologous recombinants constitute 15% of the selected G418-resistant, FIAU-resistant cells. We have also measured the level of chimeric kappa gene expression and found surprisingly that (1) it is very variable among transformants with the same recombinant gene structure, (2) there is no systematic difference in the level of production by recombinants that retain or have lost the J-C kappa intron enhancer, and (3) the amount of chimeric kappa mRNA in even the highest producing transformants is much less than the amount of the corresponding mouse kappa mRNA.

Production of mouse V/human C chimeric kappa genes by homologous recombination in hybridoma cells. Analysis of vector design and recombinant gene expression

Homologous recombination between transferred and chromosomal Ig genes in mouse hybridoma cells offers a general method of altering the chromosomal Ig genes in predetermined ways. Recombination is infrequent in hybridoma cells, and we have been interested in improving the methods for identifying and recovering the rare recombinants. We have used vectors that are designed to replace the mouse chromosomal C kappa segment with the human equivalent, so that recombinants produce mouse V/human C chimeric kappa-chains. We describe an enhancerless, replacement type vector that can be used with the herpes thymidine kinase counterselection to provide such enrichment that homologous recombinants constitute 15% of the selected G418-resistant, FIAU-resistant cells. We have also measured the level of chimeric kappa gene expression and found surprisingly that (1) it is very variable among transformants with the same recombinant gene structure, (2) there is no systematic difference in the level of production by recombinants that retain or have lost the J-C kappa intron enhancer, and (3) the amount of chimeric kappa mRNA in even the highest producing transformants is much less than the amount of the corresponding mouse kappa mRNA.

A hit-and-run system for introducing mutations into the Ig H chain locus of hybridoma cells by homologous recombination

The traditional method of site-specific mutagenesis is to introduce predetermined mutations into an expression vector, which is then transferred to cells so that the relevant gene product and the effects of the mutations can be measured. A problem with this approach is that the expression of the transferred genes varies from transformant to transformant, presumably because the number of vector copies and the site of chromosomal integration vary among transformants. While it should be possible to avoid this variability by mutagenizing the chromosomal gene itself, the labor involved in introducing predetermined mutations by homologous recombination with a mutagenized vector is usually so intense that this has not been the favored method. We describe here a system for introducing mutations into the IgH locus of hybridoma cells. This system greatly reduces the labor that would usually be required to identify and recover the rare recombinants. This is a two-step, so-called "hit-and-run," method, whereby mutations are first introduced into the chromosomal locus by targeted vector integration, after which the vector is excised so as to leave the mutation in the chromosomal target. The first step employs an enhancer trap vector bearing an enhancerless gpt gene; using this vector the frequency of randomly inserted transformants which grow in mycophenolic acid containing selective medium is so low that approximately 25% of the selected transformants have integrated the vector into the IgH locus by homologous recombination. Properly targeted transformants can then be used to derive secondary recombinants that have excised the vector and thus become gpt-. This second step which involves selection of gpt- cells by their resistance to 6-thioxanthine is also efficient, in that approximately 75% of the treated cells have excised the gpt gene by homologous recombination. Overall the labor involved in mutagenizing the chromosomal locus is not much more than is needed to produce the traditional transformants expressing a mutagenized transferred gene.

A hit-and-run system for introducing mutations into the Ig H chain locus of hybridoma cells by homologous recombination

The traditional method of site-specific mutagenesis is to introduce predetermined mutations into an expression vector, which is then transferred to cells so that the relevant gene product and the effects of the mutations can be measured. A problem with this approach is that the expression of the transferred genes varies from transformant to transformant, presumably because the number of vector copies and the site of chromosomal integration vary among transformants. While it should be possible to avoid this variability by mutagenizing the chromosomal gene itself, the labor involved in introducing predetermined mutations by homologous recombination with a mutagenized vector is usually so intense that this has not been the favored method. We describe here a system for introducing mutations into the IgH locus of hybridoma cells. This system greatly reduces the labor that would usually be required to identify and recover the rare recombinants. This is a two-step, so-called "hit-and-run," method, whereby mutations are first introduced into the chromosomal locus by targeted vector integration, after which the vector is excised so as to leave the mutation in the chromosomal target. The first step employs an enhancer trap vector bearing an enhancerless gpt gene; using this vector the frequency of randomly inserted transformants which grow in mycophenolic acid containing selective medium is so low that approximately 25% of the selected transformants have integrated the vector into the IgH locus by homologous recombination. Properly targeted transformants can then be used to derive secondary recombinants that have excised the vector and thus become gpt-. This second step which involves selection of gpt- cells by their resistance to 6-thioxanthine is also efficient, in that approximately 75% of the treated cells have excised the gpt gene by homologous recombination. Overall the labor involved in mutagenizing the chromosomal locus is not much more than is needed to produce the traditional transformants expressing a mutagenized transferred gene.

Isolation of new nonsense and frameshift mutants in the immunoglobulin mu heavy-chain gene of hybridoma cells

In order to expand the experimental material available for genetic and biochemical analyses of the natural immunoglobulin genes, we have isolated a variety of mutant mouse hybridoma cell lines. Some of these mutants have partial or complete deletions of the mu gene. Other mutants have nonsense or frameshift mutations in the exons encoding the variable and the second and third constant region domains of the mu heavy chain. When combined with earlier mutant data, this collection of genotypically and phenotypically tight mutants of known sequence spans most of the 10 kb of the mu gene, providing material for a variety of studies of genetic recombination and mRNA metabolism.

Effects of mutation position on frequency of marker rescue by homologous recombination

Homologous recombination between transferred and chromosomal DNA can be used for mapping mutations by marker rescue, i.e., by identifying which segment of wild-type DNA can recombine with the mutant chromosomal gene and restore normal function. In order to define how much the fragments should overlap each other for reliable mapping, we have measured how the frequency of marker rescue is affected by the position of the chromosomal mutation relative to the ends of the transferred DNA fragments. For this purpose, we used several DNA fragments to effect marker rescue in two mutant hybridomas which bear mutations 673 bp apart in the exons encoding the second and third constant region domains of the immunoglobulin mu heavy chain. The frequency of marker rescue decreased greatly when the mutation was located near one of the ends of the fragments, the results indicating that fragments should be designed to overlap by at least several hundred base pairs. Possible explanations for this "end effect" are considered.

Gene replacement with one-sided homologous recombination

Homologous recombination is now routinely used in mammalian cells to replace endogenous chromosomal sequences with transferred DNA. Vectors for this purpose are traditionally constructed so that the replacement segment is flanked on both sides by DNA sequences which are identical to sequences in the chromosomal target gene. To test the importance of bilateral regions of homology, we measured recombination between transferred and chromosomal immunoglobulin genes when the transferred segment was homologous to the chromosomal gene only on the 3' side. In each of the four recombinants analyzed, the 5' junction was unique, suggesting that it was formed by nonhomologous, i.e., random or illegitimate, recombination. In two of the recombinants, the 3' junction was apparently formed by homologous recombination, while in the other two recombinants, the 3' junction as well as the 5' junction might have involved a nonhomologous crossover. As reported previously, we found that the frequency of gene targeting increases monotonically with the length of the region of homology. Our results also indicate that targeting with fragments bearing one-sided homology can be as efficient as with fragments with bilateral homology, provided that the overall length of homology is comparable. The frequency of these events suggests that the immunoglobulin locus is particularly susceptible to nonhomologous recombination. Vectors designed for one-sided homologous recombination might be advantageous for some applications in genetic engineering.

Effects of vector cutting on its recombination with the chromosomal immunoglobulin gene in hybridoma cells

We have analyzed the effects of linearizing vector DNA on the frequency and pathway of its recombination with the homologous chromosomal gene. The pSV2neo vector bearing a 4.3-kb fragment encoding the mouse immunoglobulin mu heavy chain constant (C mu) region was cut either at sites within the C mu segment or outside C mu and then transferred to hybridoma cells bearing a mutant mu gene. The frequency of recombinant cells producing normal mu was then measured. For most cut sites, whether in regions of homology or of nonhomology, linearization of the transferred DNA enhanced the recombination frequency between the vector and chromosomal mu genes. When the vector was either uncut or cut at SacI in the region of homology, G418-resistant mu m+ recombinants were found to have integrated the vector by a single reciprocal homologous crossover; the enzyme site (SacI) used for cutting was present in the recombinants. By contrast, when the vector had been linearized at PvuI or SfiI in the region of nonhomology, vector integration involved nonhomologous crossovers, either between transferred DNA molecules or between transferred and chromosomal DNA, and the vector cut sites were absent in these recombinants. Some recombinants were found to have an unaltered as well as recombinant mu gene, suggesting that the nonhomologous recombination process might have involved sister chromatids.

Substitution of asparagine for serine-406 of the immunoglobulin mu heavy chain alters glycosylation at asparagine-402

Previous work suggested that the substitution of Asn for Ser at position 406 of the mu heavy chain of mouse IgM results in aberrant glycosylation at Asn402. In order to characterise the apparently abnormal glycosylation process more precisely, the mutant and wildtype mu chains were fragmented by cleavage with cyanogen bromide, and the resulting glycopeptides were analysed further. Measurements of lectin binding specificity as well as glycosidase sensitivity suggest that the oligosaccharide at Asn402 of wildtype mu is a hybrid type which does not contain terminal alpha(2-6) or alpha(2-3) linked sialic acid. By contrast, the corresponding oligosaccharide on Asn402 of mutant mu is complex and contains terminal sialic acid linked alpha(2-6) to galactose. The structural features for specifying the abnormal glycosylation are present in monomeric mutant IgM.

A V region mutation in a phosphocholine-binding monoclonal antibody results in loss of antigen binding

A V region mutant producing an antibody that had lost the ability to bind phosphocholine was isolated from a hybridoma producing a germline encoded T15 antibody. The mutation resulted in a single aspartic acid to asparagine substitution at residue 95 of the H chain V region. This confirms that the aspartic acid at residue 95 plays a major role in Ag binding. The results also suggest that somatic cell genetic techniques can be used to generate mAb with useful changes in Ag binding.

A V region mutation in a phosphocholine-binding monoclonal antibody results in loss of antigen binding

A V region mutant producing an antibody that had lost the ability to bind phosphocholine was isolated from a hybridoma producing a germline encoded T15 antibody. The mutation resulted in a single aspartic acid to asparagine substitution at residue 95 of the H chain V region. This confirms that the aspartic acid at residue 95 plays a major role in Ag binding. The results also suggest that somatic cell genetic techniques can be used to generate mAb with useful changes in Ag binding.

Homologous recombination in hybridoma cells: dependence on time and fragment length

Mutant hybridoma-myeloma cell lines that are defective in immunoglobulin production are expected to be useful for defining the molecular requirements of immunoglobulin gene expression. The analysis of such mutants would be greatly facilitated if they could be mapped by marker rescue, i.e., by identifying the segments of wild-type DNA that can restore the normal phenotype by homologous recombination with the mutant chromosomal immunoglobulin gene. To assess the feasibility of this type of mapping, we have measured the efficiency with which fragments of wild-type DNA recombine with a mutant hybridoma immunoglobulin gene and restore normal immunoglobulin production. We found that most if not all recombinants were detectable 2 days after DNA transfer and that the frequency of gene restoration increased with increasing length of the transferred mu gene fragments, between 1.2 and 9.5 kilobases. These results indicate that the available technology should be adequate to map mutations in the mu gene to within approximately 1 kilobase.

C1 binding by mouse IgM. The effect of abnormal glycosylation at position 402 resulting from a serine to asparagine exchange at residue 406 of the mu-chain

We have previously shown that IgM-Asn406, a mutant IgM which has asparagine in place of the serine which is normally found at position 406, also has an abnormally glycosylated mu-chain and is defective in complement-dependent cytolysis. Here we show by analyzing cyanogen bromide fragments from normal and mutant mu-chains that the site of abnormal glycosylation is at the neighboring position, Asn402. The cytolytic defect was shown to be due to impaired C1 binding. At physiological ionic strength, the C1 binding defect was estimated to be 12-fold, which correlates well with the measured defect in cytolytic activity; also, the severity of the defect in C1 binding by the mutant protein decreases with decreasing ionic strength. Kinetic studies showed that the difference in affinities is due to a proportional difference in the association rate for C1q. By comparing IgM made in the presence and absence of deoxymannojirimycin, we show further that the defect in cytolytic activity derives mostly from the abnormal oligosaccharide.