Nucleic Acids Research, 1985, Vol. 13, No. 13 4921-4934
© 1985
Articles |
Cloning and sequencing of a rearranged V
gene from a Burkitt's tymphoma cell line expressing kappa light chains
The Wistar institute of Anatomy and Biology 36th St. at Spruce, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
*To whom correspondence should be addressed
Received January 28, 1985. Revised May 27, 1985. Accepted May 27, 1985.
We have cloned and sequenced a rearranged V
gene from a Burkitt's lymphoma cell line PA682(PB). This cell line has two rearranged K loci and has been shown to be expressing K light chains (1). This V gene has been identified as a member of the V subgroup III gene family based on the homology of the predicted amino acid sequence of PAV with the reported sequences of the V protein DEL of subgroup III. Nine cross-hybridizing bands have been detected on Southern blots and the chromosomal orientation of the V subgroup III gene family has been determined in relation to the V subgroup I gene family. Although the PAV rearrangement has occurred via a legitimate V-J joining and a normal size transcript is detected on Northern blots, the nucleotide sequence reveals a high level of mutations resulting in multiple termination signals within the V gene coding sequence and only a truncated V protein can be translated. This confirms previous observations that although multiple light chain genes may be transcribed, only one functional light chain protein can be synthesized.