Immunoglobulin structure: amino terminal sequences of kappa chains from genetically similar mice (BALB/c)

Classification of mouse VK groups based on the partial amino acid sequence to the first invariant tryptophan: impact of 14 new sequences from IgG myeloma proteins

Fourteen new VK sequences derived from BALB/c IgG myeloma proteins were determined to the first invariant tryptophan (Trp 35). These partial sequences were compared with 65 other published VK sequences using a computer program. The 79 sequences were organized according to the length of the sequence from the amino terminus to the first invariant tryptophan (Trp 35), into seven groups (33, 34, 35, 36, 39, 40 and 41aa). A distance matrix of all 79 sequences was then computed, i.e. the number of amino acid substitutions necessary to convert one sequence to another was determined. From these data a dendrogram was constructed. Most of the VK sequences fell into clusters or closely related groups. The definition of a sequence group is arbitrary but facilitates the classification of VK proteins. We used 12 substitutions as the basis for defining a sequence group based on the known number of substitutions that are found in the VK21 proteins. By this criterion there were 18 groups in the Trp 35 dendrogram. Twelve of the 14 new sequences fell into one of these sequence groups; two formed new sequence groups. Collective amino acid sequencing is still encountering new VK structures indicating more sequences will be required to attain an accurate estimate of the total number of VK groups. Updated dendrograms can be quickly generated to include newly generated sequences.

Constancy of cross-reactivity patterns in sera of individual mice during the anti-H-2 response

H-2 alloimmunization evokes antibodies of differing cross-reactivity patterns among individual mice of one inbred strain. We investigated whether this is due to unknown variations at the time of bleeding or whether it remains constant for an individual mouse during long-term immunization. At various times during immunization, serum was collected from individual mice and it was tested on a panel of mouse and human lymphocytes. Sera from three donor-recipient combinations were examined. In some sera, a broadening of the cross-reactivity pattern occurred after prolonged immunization, but no major change in specificity was observed. We conclude that the differences in cross-reactivity pattern among sera from individual mice remain constant during the immunization period and do not reflect variations in the condition of the animals at the time of bleeding.

Structural and antigenic studies of an idiotype-bearing murine antibody to the arsonate hapten

Mice of strain A/J responded to repeated intraperitoneal injection of Limulus hemocyanin derivatized with arsanilic acid by producing large quantities (approximately 5 mg/mL of ascites fluid) of IgG antibodies specific for this hapten. The antibodies possessed a characteristic idiotypic determinant and exhibited restricted heterogeneity as demonstrated by isoelectric focusing and primary N-terminal amino acid sequence analysis of isolated light and heavy polypeptide chains. Both light- and heavy-chain sequences were comparable to those of myeloma proteins in lack of heterogeneity. The N terminus of the light chain exhibited V KI sequence and only one position in the first 30 residues showed more than one amino acid. No variability was observed in the first 10 N-terminal residues of the heavy chain. Rabbit antiserum to the idiotype blocked binding of hapten by the purified antibody. The presence of both light- and heavy-chain antigenic determinants was required for optimal formation of the idiotypic determinant.

k Chain variable regions from three galactan binding myeloma proteins

A series of seven BALB/c myeloma proteins has been identified with binding specificity for antigens containing beta(1 leads to 6)-D-galactopyranosyl moieties. We have determined the primary amino acid sequence of the first 108 residues from the light chains of three of these proteins. The framework portions of the variable regions of these three light chains are identical with residue 100 at which position three different amino acids are found in the three chains. An additional interchange was found at position 106 in one of the proteins. Based on recent DNA sequence studies suggesting that the variable region ends at residue 97, these substitutions indicate the possible existance of multiple genes coding for the region beginning at residue 98 and continuing toward the carboxy terminus. A single amino acid interchange was observed in complementarity determining regions occurring in L3. This substitution (Ile-Trp) would require changes in all three codon bases to produce the respective amino acids if one were derived from the other. Two of these chains are thus indistinguishable for their first 100 amino acids and are the first pair of k chains to exhibit complete identity over their variable regions.

Genetic determination of antibody specificity. Gene translocation and fusion, the molecular basis for the differentiation of the antibody-producing cell

The best system for the study of cell differentiation is a cell which in its differentiated state differs only by one product. This is the case in the immune system. The undifferentiated, but omnipotent stem cell differentiates into a committed B cell which produces only one type of specific antibody out of a million different, genetically fixed possibilities. Gene translocation and fusion is the basis of this differentiation process.

Antibody diversity

Three important aspects of immunoglobulin gene organization and structure have emerged from studies of cloned immunoglobulin kappa chain genes. (i) Multiple variable genes are encoded separately in the genome of both immunoglobulin-producing and uncommitted (embryonic) cells, thereby establishing the evolutionary base for generating immunoglobulin diversity. (ii) These genes exist as many small, closely related families (subgroups) that share close sequence homology largely within their own subgroup. (iii) Comparison of two cloned variable gene segments derived from a single subgroup reveals a feature of their structure that distinguishes them from fixed genes (that is, globin genes) and provides, through extensive surrounding sequence homology, a large target for intergenic recombination. This last observation suggests that a simple recombination mechanism may account for their genetic instability in both germ line and somatic cells.

Immune response to phosphorylcholine. I. Characterization of the epitope-specific antibody

The antibodies to phosphorylcholine induced in BALB/c mice were isolated and studied with a variety of biochemical and immunochemical methods. Analysis of the idiotype and the hapten-binding specificities showed no differences to the phosphorylcholine-binding myeloma protein TEPC 15, indicating a high degree of homogeneity. However, disc electrophoresis, isoelectric focusing and amino acid composition data indicated large differences in the structure of anti-phosphorylcholine antibody and TEPC 15. By these criteria the anti-phosphorylcholine antibodies from BALB/c mice are of oligoclonal origin.

Immunoglobulin structure: amino terminal sequences of mouse myeloma proteins that bind phosphorylcholine

The amino terminal sequences of five light and heavy immunoglobulin chains from myeloma proteins of the BALB/c mouse with binding activity to phosphorylcholine are presented. Except for a single substitution in position 4, all five heavy chains have identical amino terminal sequences through the first hypervariable region. Proteins which share unique (idiotypic) antigenic determinants are identical through the first hypervariable region of their light and heavy chains. Proteins with differing idiotypic determinants have light chains of differing amino acid sequence. These observations suggest that the heavy chain plays a more important role than the light chain in determining the phosphorylcholine binding site.

Estimation of light-chain gene reiteration of mouse immunoglobulin by DNA-RNA hybridization

A 12S species of RNA has been isolated from membrane-bound polyribosomes of MPC-11 mouse myeloma cells. This 12S RNA is translated by an extract of Krebs-II mouse ascites cells into immunoglobulin light chain. Labeled 12S RNA has been prepared by incubation of myeloma cells with [(3)H]uridine in the presence of low concentrations of actinomycin D and ethidium bromide. This RNA has been hybridized under conditions of DNA excess to mouse myeloma DNA and to liver DNA. A C(0)t(1/2) of about 150 has been obtained, corresponding to a reiteration frequency of about 40. Unlabeled 12S RNA competes with the labeled species in hybridization experiments, whereas globin mRNA or mouse ascites 12S RNA does not. It is suggested that 12S RNA hybridizes only to V(kappa)-genes of the same subclass, and that there may be several hundred genes coding for V(kappa)-regions of all subclasses in a mouse genome. Moreover, gene amplification in myeloma cells is not detected.

The complete amino acid sequence of a mouse kappa light chain

The complete amino acid sequence of the kappa-chain of the mouse myeloma protein MOPC 21 was established. The protein was reduced and alkylated with iodo[2-(14)C]acetic acid, and 21 tryptic peptides were isolated, mainly by paper electrophoresis and paper chromatography. Three large tryptic peptides (of 35, 36 and 42 residues), which were difficult to isolate in this manner, were obtained pure and in excellent yields by a combination of Sephadex G-50 gel filtration in 1% (w/v) NH(4)HCO(3) and chromatography on a DEAE-cellulose column in ammonium acetate buffer, pH8.1. Peptides overlapping the tryptic peptides were isolated from a chymotryptic digest. The chain is 214 residues long. Microheterogeneity of two peptides was observed and is believed to be due to deamidation. It was not excluded that such deamidation could occur in serum from which the protein was isolated. The sequence is compared with the sequences of two other mouse kappa-chains, and with the human kappa-chain basic sequences.

N-terminal amino-acid sequence of African lungfish immunoglobulin light chains

The sequence of the N-terminal ten amino acids of the unblocked light chains derived from the low molecular weight immunoglobulin of a dipnoid fish, the African lungfish (Protopterus aethiopicus), has been determined. A degree of sequence heterogeneity as extensive as that displayed by pooled mammalian light chains was encountered. The major N-terminal sequence of the amino acids of light chains from lungfish immunoglobins can be made homologous with that of various Elasmobranchean, Chondrostean, Avian, and Mammalian species if an internal deletion of two base triplets in the gene coding for light chains from lungfish immunoglobulins is assumed. The existence of a deletion and/or insertion mechanism may have profound biological significance, since it would be ideal for the introduction of variability into immunoglobulin chains without sacrificing certain integral features of the antibody molecule.

Amino-acid sequences of light chains of a rabbit anti-p-azobenzoate antibody

Half-cystine peptic peptides representing the intrachain disulfide bonds of the light chain from an apparently homogeneous rabbit anti-p-azobenzoate antibody were isolated in good yields after reduction and alkylation with [(14)C]iodoacetate, and their sequences were determined. The sequence of the first 21 amino-terminal residues was also determined. The good yields of these peptides, the fact that no variants of any of them were found, and the cleanness of the amino-terminal sequence determination confirm the high degree of homogeneity of this light-chain preparation. Previous evidence for the homogeneity of the light chain includes the appearance of only a single band upon analysis by disc electrophoresis, a relatively unique amino-acid composition, and a simple tryptic peptide map. The whole antibody shows a homogeneity of the hapten-binding constant. The antigen used in the present work is complex, since the attached hapten groups are in a large variety of environments, particularly since the carrier is a heterogeneous mixture of globulins. The very limited heterogeneity of the antibodies found in this case would appear to depend on the stimulation of only a few of the cells capable of producing antibody against a given hapten, rather than on a structural identity of the environment around each individual hapten group that is located on the antigen molecule.

Heavy-chain variable regions in normal and pathological immunolobulins

Aminoacid sequence analysis of immunoglobulin G heavy chains from each of 15 normal individuals showed the presence of VHIII subgroup sequences in all individuals, to an extent of about 15-25% of the total. Therefore, different subgroups of the heavy-chain variable region are not products of alleles of a single gene.N-terminal aminoacid sequences were determined for ten heavy chains of myeloma proteins that belonged to the VHIII subgroup. Our results demonstrate the existence of a "hypervariable" region of sequence between positions 30 and 35, homologous to one of the three hypervariable regions of light chains. At several positions, variants of the basic sequence are repeated in different proteins. It is likely that such variants are derived from several recently evolved genes that constitute the VHIII subgroup.