Deletional mapping of fifteen mouse VH gene families reveals a common organization for three Igh haplotypes
Mainville, C.A.; Sheehan, K.M.; Klaman, L.D.; Giorgetti, C.A.; Press, J.L.; Brodeur, P.H.
Journal of Immunology 156(3): 1038-1046
1996
ISSN/ISBN: 0022-1767 PMID: 8557977 Document Number: 461823
In addition to the content of germ-line variable gene segments, the organization of V genes has been implicated in the development of the Ab repertoire. We have searched the expressed V-H genes of BALB/c mice for additional V-H gene families and utilized deletion mapping to explore the extent of V-H gene family interspersion. We have identified and characterized one new V-H gene family (V-H15) and extended our previous studies of the Igh-a and Igh-b haplotypes to include a third haplotype (Igh-j) using a newly developed panel of pre-B cell lines (CXCB cell lines). We conclude that the Igh-a, Igh-b, and Igh-j haplotypes have a similar Igh-V locus structure. A refined deletional map for 15 V-H gene families and an individual member of the V-HSM7 family (H10) has been constructed based on the deletion profiles of 72 rearranged heavy chain loci. These results demonstrate previously unrecognized examples of interspersion among members of the V-HS107, V-H10, and V-HSM7 families.