Mapping of antibody specificities to VH gene families.
Journal Article (Journal Article)
VH gene segments represent the products of the repeated duplication and subsequent diversification of a primordial V gene element. It is widely assumed that natural selection, operating via pathogens, has played the dominant role in this process. Here, we screen some 3.7 x 10(4) C mu+ colonies of mitogen-activated B cells for the production of antibodies specific for phosphorylcholine or hen egg lysozyme and expression of the VH X-24, S107, Q52, or J558 gene families. These gene families were expressed at frequencies proportional to their genomic complexity among both unselected and antigen-specific C mu+ colonies. Thus, the capacity to encode equivalent antibody-combining sites is dispersed uniformly among VH families. This result suggests that individual VH genes have not evolved to address specific antigens.
Full Text
Duke Authors
Cited Authors
- Kelsoe, G; Miceli, R; Cerny, J; Schulze, DH
Published Date
- 1989
Published In
Volume / Issue
- 29 / 5
Start / End Page
- 288 - 296
PubMed ID
- 2785504
International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)
- 0093-7711
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
- 10.1007/BF00352838
Language
- eng
Conference Location
- United States