Biomaterial Database

Immunoglobulin lambda gene rearrangement can precede kappa gene rearrangement. 1990

J Berg, and M McDowell, and H M Jäck, and M Wabl

Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, San Francisco 94143-0414.

Immunoglobulin genes are generated during differentiation of B lymphocytes by joining gene segments. A mouse pre-B cell contains a functional immunoglobulin heavy-chain gene, but no light-chain gene. Although there is only one heavy-chain locus, there are two light-chain loci: kappa and lambda. It has been reported that kappa loci in the germ-line configuration are never (in man) or very rarely (in the mouse) present in cells with functionally rearranged lambda-chain genes. Two explanations have been proposed to explain this: (a) the ordered rearrangement theory, which postulates that light-chain gene rearrangement in the pre-B cell is first attempted at the kappa locus, and that only upon failure to produce a functional kappa chain is there an attempt to rearrange the lambda locus; and (b) the stochastic theory, which postulates that rearrangement at the lambda locus proceeds at a rate that is intrinsically much slower than that at the kappa locus. We show here that lambda-chain genes are generated whether or not the kappa locus has lost its germ-line arrangement, a result that is compatible only with the stochastic theory.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D009101	Multiple Myeloma	A malignancy of mature PLASMA CELLS engaging in monoclonal immunoglobulin production. It is characterized by hyperglobulinemia, excess Bence-Jones proteins (free monoclonal IMMUNOGLOBULIN LIGHT CHAINS) in the urine, skeletal destruction, bone pain, and fractures. Other features include ANEMIA; HYPERCALCEMIA; and RENAL INSUFFICIENCY.	Myeloma, Plasma-Cell,Kahler Disease,Myeloma, Multiple,Myeloma-Multiple,Myelomatosis,Plasma Cell Myeloma,Cell Myeloma, Plasma,Cell Myelomas, Plasma,Disease, Kahler,Multiple Myelomas,Myeloma Multiple,Myeloma, Plasma Cell,Myeloma-Multiples,Myelomas, Multiple,Myelomas, Plasma Cell,Myelomas, Plasma-Cell,Myelomatoses,Plasma Cell Myelomas,Plasma-Cell Myeloma,Plasma-Cell Myelomas
D004247	DNA	A deoxyribonucleotide polymer that is the primary genetic material of all cells. Eukaryotic and prokaryotic organisms normally contain DNA in a double-stranded state, yet several important biological processes transiently involve single-stranded regions. DNA, which consists of a polysugar-phosphate backbone possessing projections of purines (adenine and guanine) and pyrimidines (thymine and cytosine), forms a double helix that is held together by hydrogen bonds between these purines and pyrimidines (adenine to thymine and guanine to cytosine).	DNA, Double-Stranded,Deoxyribonucleic Acid,ds-DNA,DNA, Double Stranded,Double-Stranded DNA,ds DNA
D005803	Genes, Immunoglobulin	Genes encoding the different subunits of the IMMUNOGLOBULINS, for example the IMMUNOGLOBULIN LIGHT CHAIN GENES and the IMMUNOGLOBULIN HEAVY CHAIN GENES. The heavy and light immunoglobulin genes are present as gene segments in the germline cells. The completed genes are created when the segments are shuffled and assembled (B-LYMPHOCYTE GENE REARRANGEMENT) during B-LYMPHOCYTE maturation. The gene segments of the human light and heavy chain germline genes are symbolized V (variable), J (joining) and C (constant). The heavy chain germline genes have an additional segment D (diversity).	Genes, Ig,Immunoglobulin Genes,Gene, Ig,Gene, Immunoglobulin,Ig Gene,Ig Genes,Immunoglobulin Gene
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D006825	Hybridomas	Cells artificially created by fusion of activated lymphocytes with neoplastic cells. The resulting hybrid cells are cloned and produce pure MONOCLONAL ANTIBODIES or T-cell products, identical to those produced by the immunologically competent parent cell.	Hybridoma
D000483	Alleles	Variant forms of the same gene, occupying the same locus on homologous CHROMOSOMES, and governing the variants in production of the same gene product.	Allelomorphs,Allele,Allelomorph
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D000916	Antibody Diversity	The phenomenon of immense variability characteristic of ANTIBODIES. It enables the IMMUNE SYSTEM to react specifically against the essentially unlimited kinds of ANTIGENS it encounters. Antibody diversity is accounted for by three main theories: (1) the Germ Line Theory, which holds that each antibody-producing cell has genes coding for all possible antibody specificities, but expresses only the one stimulated by antigen; (2) the Somatic Mutation Theory, which holds that antibody-producing cells contain only a few genes, which produce antibody diversity by mutation; and (3) the Gene Rearrangement Theory, which holds that antibody diversity is generated by the rearrangement of IMMUNOGLOBULIN VARIABLE REGION gene segments during the differentiation of the ANTIBODY-PRODUCING CELLS.	Germ Line Theory,Antibody Diversities,Diversities, Antibody,Diversity, Antibody,Germ Line Theories,Theories, Germ Line,Theory, Germ Line
D015328	Gene Rearrangement, B-Lymphocyte, Light Chain	Ordered rearrangement of B-lymphocyte variable gene regions coding for the kappa or lambda IMMUNOGLOBULIN LIGHT CHAINS, thereby contributing to antibody diversity. It occurs during the second stage of differentiation of the IMMATURE B-LYMPHOCYTES.	B-Cell Light Chain Gene Rearrangement,B-Lymphocyte Light Chain Gene Rearrangement,B-Lymphocyte kappa-Chain Gene Rearrangement,B-Lymphocyte lambda-Chain Gene Rearrangement,B Cell Light Chain Gene Rearrangement,B Cell kappa-Chain Gene Rearrangement,B Cell lambda-Chain Gene Rearrangement,B Lymphocyte Light Chain Gene Rearrangement,B Cell kappa Chain Gene Rearrangement,B Cell lambda Chain Gene Rearrangement,B Lymphocyte kappa Chain Gene Rearrangement,B Lymphocyte lambda Chain Gene Rearrangement
D051379	Mice	The common name for the genus Mus.	Mice, House,Mus,Mus musculus,Mice, Laboratory,Mouse,Mouse, House,Mouse, Laboratory,Mouse, Swiss,Mus domesticus,Mus musculus domesticus,Swiss Mice,House Mice,House Mouse,Laboratory Mice,Laboratory Mouse,Mice, Swiss,Swiss Mouse,domesticus, Mus musculus