Genetic marker in the variable region of kappa chains of mouse anti‐phosphorylcholine antibodies

Abstract

A newly discovered genetic marker in the kappa light chains of mouse immunoglobulins is described. This marker, designated K‐PC8, is located in the L chains of those anti‐phosphorylcholine (PC) antibodies which show the same functional and idiotypic characteristics as a PC‐binding myeloma protein, HOPC 8 (H8). Analytical isoelectric focusing of these L chains revealed two phenotypes whose strain distribution pattern suggested a genetic association with genes that determine the T lymphocyte surface antigen(s) Ly‐2/Ly‐3. In four strains, AKR/J, C58/J, RF/J and PL/J (AKR‐type, A) the H8‐like L chains have a slightly lower isoelectric point than those of C57L/J and 12 other strains (C57L‐type, B). Breeding experiments showed that the K‐PC8‐A phenotype is preferentially expressed. The most probable location of the marker is the variable region since other idiotypically related K‐chains in CS7L/J and AKR/J do not show differences in their electrophoretic mobility.