Biomaterial Database

Investigations of the structural function of the J chain in human immunoglobulin M. 1973

M J Ricardo, and F P Inman

Human IgM molecules were treated with Na(2)SO(3) or mercaptoethylamine in concentrations ranging from 2 to 14mm or 2 to 22mm respectively. The dissociation of IgM to IgM(s) varied from 0% to 100%. At the intermediate concentrations of either reagent the amount of freed J chains was less than expected. In an attempt to find an explanation for this, IgM was partially dissociated to IgM(s) with mercaptoethylamine. The IgM(s) isolated by gel filtration was divided according to the ascending and descending portions of the elution curve. These portions were treated with 24mm-mercaptoethylamine and analysed for the presence of J chains. Only the ascending portion contained free J chains. Thus, after mild reduction where not all the IgM molecules are dissociated to IgM(s), some J chains remain covalently attached to some IgM(s) molecules although most of the J chains are freed. It was concluded that the J chain could serve as a ;hitch' for IgM(s) molecules forming intact IgM.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007075	Immunoglobulin M	A class of immunoglobulin bearing mu chains (IMMUNOGLOBULIN MU-CHAINS). IgM can fix COMPLEMENT. The name comes from its high molecular weight and originally was called a macroglobulin.	Gamma Globulin, 19S,IgM,IgM Antibody,IgM1,IgM2,19S Gamma Globulin,Antibody, IgM
D007106	Immune Sera	Serum that contains antibodies. It is obtained from an animal that has been immunized either by ANTIGEN injection or infection with microorganisms containing the antigen.	Antisera,Immune Serums,Sera, Immune,Serums, Immune
D007128	Immunoglobulin Fragments	Partial immunoglobulin molecules resulting from selective cleavage by proteolytic enzymes or generated through PROTEIN ENGINEERING techniques.	Antibody Fragment,Antibody Fragments,Ig Fragment,Ig Fragments,Immunoglobulin Fragment,Fragment, Antibody,Fragment, Ig,Fragment, Immunoglobulin,Fragments, Antibody,Fragments, Ig,Fragments, Immunoglobulin
D007144	Immunoglobulin J-Chains	A 15 kDa "joining" peptide that forms one of the linkages between monomers of IMMUNOGLOBULIN A or IMMUNOGLOBULIN M in the formation of polymeric immunoglobulins. There is one J chain per one IgA dimer or one IgM pentamer. It is also involved in binding the polymeric immunoglobulins to POLYMERIC IMMUNOGLOBULIN RECEPTOR which is necessary for their transcytosis to the lumen. It is distinguished from the IMMUNOGLOBULIN JOINING REGION which is part of the IMMUNOGLOBULIN VARIABLE REGION of the immunoglobulin light and heavy chains.	Ig J Chains,J-Chains, Immunoglobulin,Ig J-Peptide,Immunoglobulin J Polypeptide,Immunoglobulin J-Peptide,Chains, Ig J,Ig J Peptide,Immunoglobulin J Chains,Immunoglobulin J Peptide,J Chains, Ig,J Chains, Immunoglobulin,J Polypeptide, Immunoglobulin,J-Peptide, Ig,J-Peptide, Immunoglobulin,Polypeptide, Immunoglobulin J
D007525	Isoelectric Focusing	Electrophoresis in which a pH gradient is established in a gel medium and proteins migrate until they reach the site (or focus) at which the pH is equal to their isoelectric point.	Electrofocusing,Focusing, Isoelectric
D008258	Waldenstrom Macroglobulinemia	A lymphoproliferative disorder characterized by pleomorphic B-LYMPHOCYTES including PLASMA CELLS, with increased levels of monoclonal serum IMMUNOGLOBULIN M. There is lymphoplasmacytic cells infiltration into bone marrow and often other tissues, also known as lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma. Clinical features include ANEMIA; HEMORRHAGES; and hyperviscosity.	Lymphoma, Lymphoplasmacytoid,Macroglobulinemia,Familial Waldenstrom's Macroglobulinaemia,Lymphoma, Lymphocytic, Plasmacytoid,Primary Macroglobulinemia,Waldenstrom's Macroglobulinaemia,Waldenstrom's Macroglobulinemia,Familial Waldenstrom Macroglobulinaemia,Familial Waldenstroms Macroglobulinaemia,Lymphomas, Lymphoplasmacytoid,Lymphoplasmacytoid Lymphoma,Lymphoplasmacytoid Lymphomas,Macroglobulinaemia, Familial Waldenstrom's,Macroglobulinaemia, Waldenstrom's,Macroglobulinemia, Primary,Macroglobulinemia, Waldenstrom,Macroglobulinemia, Waldenstrom's,Waldenstrom Macroglobulinaemia,Waldenstrom's Macroglobulinaemia, Familial,Waldenstroms Macroglobulinaemia,Waldenstroms Macroglobulinemia
D010084	Oxidation-Reduction	A chemical reaction in which an electron is transferred from one molecule to another. The electron-donating molecule is the reducing agent or reductant; the electron-accepting molecule is the oxidizing agent or oxidant. Reducing and oxidizing agents function as conjugate reductant-oxidant pairs or redox pairs (Lehninger, Principles of Biochemistry, 1982, p471).	Redox,Oxidation Reduction
D011489	Protein Denaturation	Disruption of the non-covalent bonds and/or disulfide bonds responsible for maintaining the three-dimensional shape and activity of the native protein.	Denaturation, Protein,Denaturations, Protein,Protein Denaturations
D011817	Rabbits	A burrowing plant-eating mammal with hind limbs that are longer than its fore limbs. It belongs to the family Leporidae of the order Lagomorpha, and in contrast to hares, possesses 22 instead of 24 pairs of chromosomes.	Belgian Hare,New Zealand Rabbit,New Zealand Rabbits,New Zealand White Rabbit,Rabbit,Rabbit, Domestic,Chinchilla Rabbits,NZW Rabbits,New Zealand White Rabbits,Oryctolagus cuniculus,Chinchilla Rabbit,Domestic Rabbit,Domestic Rabbits,Hare, Belgian,NZW Rabbit,Rabbit, Chinchilla,Rabbit, NZW,Rabbit, New Zealand,Rabbits, Chinchilla,Rabbits, Domestic,Rabbits, NZW,Rabbits, New Zealand,Zealand Rabbit, New,Zealand Rabbits, New,cuniculus, Oryctolagus
D002850	Chromatography, Gel	Chromatography on non-ionic gels without regard to the mechanism of solute discrimination.	Chromatography, Exclusion,Chromatography, Gel Permeation,Chromatography, Molecular Sieve,Gel Filtration,Gel Filtration Chromatography,Chromatography, Size Exclusion,Exclusion Chromatography,Gel Chromatography,Gel Permeation Chromatography,Molecular Sieve Chromatography,Chromatography, Gel Filtration,Exclusion Chromatography, Size,Filtration Chromatography, Gel,Filtration, Gel,Sieve Chromatography, Molecular,Size Exclusion Chromatography