Murine V kappa gene expression does not follow the VH paradigm.

Abstract

V.kappa. gene family expression among LPS-reactive murine B lymphocytes, unlike that of VH gene families, is not proportional to genomic complexity, i.e., nonstoichiometric. Furthermore, no positional bias for the overexpression of J-proximal V.kappa. genes (V.kappa.21) is observed among neonatal B lymphocytes. Yet, the V.kappa. and V.kappa. 9 families located in the center of V.kappa. locus are preferentially used by neonatal B splenocytes. Thus, the mechanisms of V.kappa. gene rearrangement and expression appear to differ significantly from those controlling the VH locus.