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Partial amino acid sequences of κ-chains of rat immunoglobulins: Genetic and evolutionary implications

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Abstract

Partial amino acid sequences have been determined for several κ-type light chains prepared from sera or urine of inbred LOU/C/Wsl rats bearing plasma cell tumors. Comparison of these sequences with those of human, rabbit, and mouse κ-chains available in the literature indicates that the constant region of rat κ-chains shows more amino acid sequence homology to that of the mouse κ-chain than to human and rabbit κ-chains, a result expected from the phylogenetic relationship of the species compared. Examination of the N-terminal amino acid sequences indicated that the variable regions of rat κ-chains can also be classified into subgroups according to degree of sequence homology in a manner similar to that done for κ-chains of other species (e.g., human, rabbit, and mouse). However, the prototype amino acid sequences of κ-chain variable region subgroups of the rat were not homologous to those of other species including the closely related mouse. The implications of this observation with respect to the genetics and evolution of immunoglobulins are discussed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Basic and Clinical Immunology and Microbiology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina

    An-Chuan Wang & H. Hugh Fudenberg

  2. Experimental Immunology Unit, University of Louvain, Brussels, Belgium

    Herve Bazin

Authors
  1. An-Chuan Wang
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  2. H. Hugh Fudenberg
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  3. Herve Bazin
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Additional information

Supported in part by grants from the USPHS (AI-13388 and AI-12840), National Science Foundation (BMS-75-09513), American Cancer Society (IM-161), South Carolina State Appropriation for Research, and Fonds Cancerologique de la CGER, Belgium. A.-C. W. is the recipient of American Cancer Society Faculty Research Award FRA-125; H.B. is a staff member of EURATOM, Biology Division (publication No. 1212).

This is paper No. 4 from the Department of Basic and Clinical Immunology and Microbiology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina.

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Wang, AC., Fudenberg, H.H. & Bazin, H. Partial amino acid sequences of κ-chains of rat immunoglobulins: Genetic and evolutionary implications. Biochem Genet 14, 209–223 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00484761

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00484761

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