Alpha and Gamma Heavy Chain Diseases in Man: Intracellular Origin of the Aberrant Polypeptides

Abstract

Immunofluorescent and in vitro labeling studies were carried out on cells obtained from patients with α and γ heavy chain diseases. No evidence of post-ribosomal intracellular degradation of a normal size heavy chain was found in either case. Intracellular polymerization of the aberrant peptides appeared to take place in a fashion similar to that seen in cells synthesizing intact heavy chains.