Immunogenic and antigenic epitopes of Ig. XXV. Monoclonal antibodies that differentiate the Mcg+/Mcg- and Oz+/Oz- C region isotypes of human lambda L chains

The C region of human lambda L chains is specified by multiple C lambda genes of which three--C lambda 1, C lambda 2, and C lambda 3--encode for the isotypes designated Mcg+, Kern- Oz-, and Kern- Oz+, respectively. The Mcg, Kern, and Oz factors have been characterized by sequence differences involving specific C lambda amino acid residues. They have also been recognized serologically by polyclonal antisera but, with rare exception, these reagents are no longer available. We have obtained two murine anti-human lambda-chain mAb, 14G1 and 14D1, that recognize antigenic determinants specific for the C lambda isotypes Mcg and Oz, respectively. These antisera have been used to classify as Mcg+/Mcg- or Oz+/Oz- monoclonal lambda-chains (Bence Jones proteins) and intact Ig lambda proteins. There was complete concordance between the chemical and serologic assignment of lambda-chains as Mcg+/Mcg- or as Oz+/Oz-; no single protein expressed both isotypes. There was no evident association between the C region isotype Mcg or Oz and the V region subgroup of the protein tested. However, our finding that four of seven amyloid-associated lambda VI Bence Jones proteins were Oz+ suggests a predominant expression of the C lambda 3 gene product among proteins of this uncommon V lambda subgroup.     

Unraveling of the polymorphic C lambda 2-C lambda 3 amplification and the Ke+Oz- polymorphism in the human Ig lambda locus

Two polymorphisms of the human Ig(lambda) (IGL) locus have been described. The first polymorphism concerns a single, 2- or 3-fold amplification of 5.4 kb of DNA in the C(lambda)2-C(lambda)3 region. The second polymorphism is the Mcg(-)Ke(+)Oz(-) isotype, which has only been defined via serological analyses in Bence-Jones proteins of multiple myeloma patients and was assumed to be encoded by a polymorphic C(lambda)2 segment because of its high homology with the Mcg(-)Ke(-)Oz(-) C(lambda)2 isotype. It has been speculated that the Mcg(-)Ke(+)Oz(-) isotype might be encoded by a C(lambda) gene segment of the amplified C(lambda)2-C(lambda)3 region. We now unraveled both IGL gene polymorphisms. The amplification polymorphism appeared to result from a duplication, triplication, or quadruplication of a functional J-C(lambda)2 region and is likely to have originated from unequal crossing over of the J-C(lambda)2 and J-C(lambda)3 region via a 2.2-kb homologous repeat. The amplification polymorphism was found to result in the presence of one to five extra functional J-C(lambda)2 per genome regions, leading to decreased Ig(kappa):Ig(lambda) ratios on normal peripheral blood B cells. Via sequence analysis, we demonstrated that the Mcg(-)Ke(+)Oz(-) isotype is encoded by a polymorphic C(lambda)2 segment that differs from the normal C(lambda)2 gene segment at a single nucleotide position. This polymorphism was identified in only 1.5% (2 of 134) of individuals without J-C(lambda)2 amplification polymorphism and was not found in the J-C(lambda)2 amplification polymorphism of 44 individuals, indicating that the two IGL gene polymorphisms are not linked.     

Enhancer sequences located 3' of the mouse immunoglobulin lambda locus specify high-level expression of an immunoglobulin lambda gene in B cells of transgenic mice

In contrast to the mouse immunoglobulin heavy chain and kappa light chain genes, very little is known about the regulation of expression of the immunoglobulin lambda light chain locus. To identify elements responsible for lambda gene regulation we mapped DNaseI hypersensitive sites associated with a functionally rearranged lambda 1 gene in nuclei from the myeloma cell line J558L. Tissue-specific hypersensitive sites were identified 2.3 to 2.5 kb upstream of the CAP site of both the lambda 1 gene and the unrearranged variable (V) lambda 2 gene segments. DNA sequences flanking the lambda 1 gene were isolated and tested for their influence on expression of the lambda 1 gene after transfection into myeloma cells and after injection into fertilized mouse eggs. Two enhancer elements were identified downstream of the lambda 1 gene. A proximal element (located 4 to 10 kb 3' of the gene) enhanced expression of a lambda 1 gene in stable myeloma cell transfectants but had no effect on the expression of a heterologous reporter gene in transient assays. A second, distal element, located approximately 30 kb 3' of the gene, enhanced heterologous expression in J558L cells expressing a lambda gene but not in a non-lambda myeloma cell line (SP2/0-Ag14). Co-injection of cosmids containing the lambda 1 gene and both the proximal and distal downstream elements into fertilized mouse eggs resulted in high-level expression of the lambda 1 transgene in B cells of transgenic mice. The identification of these lambda regulatory elements, in addition to contributing to an understanding of lambda gene regulation per se, will facilitate the study of the regulation of differential expression of kappa and lambda light chain genes in the immune system.     

Organization of the murine Ig-related lambda 5 gene transcribed selectively in pre-B lymphocytes.

lambda 5 is an immunoglobulin lambda light chain-related gene which is selectively transcribed in murine pre-B lymphocytes to yield a 1.2 kb poly(A)+ mRNA. Comparison of the nucleotide sequence of a 1 kb cDNA clone with the sequence of a genomic clone isolated from 70Z/3 murine pre-B lymphoma cells shows lambda 5 is composed of three exons spanning a 3.75 kb DNA segment. Conserved splice signal sequences at all exon/intron boundaries and the presence of a long open reading frame indicate that a functional mRNA molecule can be made. Exon I contains a cap-site and a potential ATG start codon as well as sequences encoding a signal peptide. This gene could encode a lambda 5 protein of 209 amino acids which has, however, not yet been identified. The 3' portion of exon II and all of exon III shows strong sequence homologies to J lambda L and C lambda L exons. Homology to the lambda L chain genes is lost in the 5' portion of exon II and throughout exon I. In exon I short homologies to leader sequences and to VH framework 1 sequences are seen.     

A rabbit Ig lambda L chain C region gene encoding C21 allotopes

Southern blot analyses of germ-line DNA obtained from rabbits expressing lambda chains of C7 and/or C21 allotypes were performed with a rabbit C lambda region-specific probe; a 12-kbp EcoRI- and a 2-kbp BamHI-hybridizing fragment were detected only in the DNA from rabbits expressing the C21 allotype. The 12-kbp EcoRI fragment was cloned and shown to contain two C lambda region-encoding genes in the same orientation. Each is preceded by a J lambda gene segment. Nonamer-12-bp spacer-heptamer recombination signal sequences were found 5' of each J lambda segment, and splicing signals were identified at the 3' ends of the J lambda segments and the 5' ends of the corresponding C lambda genes. The C lambda 5 gene, which exhibits a sequence identical with that found in several cDNA clones, is carried by the 2-kbp BamHI fragment missing from the genomic DNA of rabbits which do not express the C21 allotype. The second C lambda gene, C lambda 6, lies 3' of C lambda 5, in a 1.6-kbp BamHI fragment which is present in genomic DNAs of all tested rabbits, irrespective of their phenotype. Its sequence is identical with that found in one cDNA clone and differs from that of C lambda 5 in 17 base positions resulting in four amino acid substitutions. A fragment of a cDNA, with a J-C region sequence identical with that encoded by the J lambda 5-C lambda 5 gene pair, was subcloned into a plasmid expression vector. The resulting polypeptide product could be specifically immunoprecipitated by anti-C21 but not anti-C7 alloantisera, showing that some, if not all, C21 allotopes are encoded by the C lambda 5 gene. In contrast, the C lambda 6 gene product was not precipitable, either by anti-C7 or by anti-C21 alloantisera, although it was readily immunoprecipitated by a goat anti-rabbit lambda chain antiserum.     

The amino acid sequence of a lambda light chain presenting abnormal physicochemical and antigenic features

The amino acid sequence of the light chain of a human monoclonal IgA1 (Mem) was established, in part by analogy with already known sequences. By homology its variable part was shown to belong to the V lambda I subgroup while the isotype-associated amino acid residues characterized it as Mcg+, Kern+ and Oz-. The normal primary structure of this chain was in contrast to its abnormal physical and antigenic properties: (a) its apparent molecular mass estimated by SDS/polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, by gel filtration chromatography and by gradient ultracentrifugation was found to be lower by approximately equal to 10% than the values (23.5 kDa) of 'normal' light chain used as controls; (b) the lambda I chain Mem, when tested in native state was not antigenically reactive. These abnormalities were reverted when the chain was treated with 8 M urea. These data suggest that the abnormal behaviour of lambda I chain Mem is at a conformational level.     

Amino acid sequence diversity in mouse lambda 2 variable regions

The lambda-chains of immunoglobulins from BALB/c mice constitute the simplest system presently available for studying patterns of variable-region diversity. The limited number of V lambda and J lambda germ-line gene segments facilitates comparison of expressed and germ-line sequences. We report here the complete amino acid sequence of the variable regions of three lambda 2 chains and of one chain representing a V lambda 2----J lambda 3 rearrangement. Together with the previously determined sequence of the lambda 2 chain from myeloma MOPC-315, the results illustrate the following types of variable-region diversification: expression of a single V gene segment with more than one J segment, variability at the V-J junction, and presumably, somatic mutation in V and in J. The extent of somatic diversification in these lambda 2 chains is limited, consistent with results obtained previously with lambda 1 chains.     

A rearranged DNA sequence possibly related to the translocation of immunoglobulin gene segments.

A 5.3 kb EcoRI fragment (T3, abbreviations in ref. 2) has been cloned from DNA of a kappa light chain producing mouse myeloma. The fragment hybridizes to the k' flanking sequences of the J1 gene segment but not to C gene sequences of kappa light chain DNA. Restriction nuclease mapping and partial nucleotide sequencing showed that the fragment consists of sequences from the 5' side of the J1 and form the 3' side of a V gene segment, which apparently had been linked in a genomic rearrangement process. These rearranged flanking sequences are not the flanking sequences of the V and J gene segments which had been joined to form the two kappa light chain genes of the myeloma. Fragments with the hybridization properties of T3 have been found also in two other kappa and one lambda chain producing myelomas. The linking of flanking sequences in the myeloma genome is discussed with respect to the mechanism of recombination between V and J gene segments.     

Genes encoding Xenopus laevis Ig L chains. Implications for the evolution of kappa and lambda chains.

Xenopus laevis Ig contain two distinct types of L chains, designated rho or L1 and sigma or L2. We have analyzed Xenopus genomic DNA by Southern blotting with cDNA probes specific for L1 V and C regions. Many fragments hybridized to the V probe, but only one or two fragments hybridized to the C probe. Corresponding C, J, and V gene segments were identified on clones isolated from a genomic library prepared from the same DNA. One clone contains a C gene segment separated from a J gene segment by an intron of 3.4 kb. The J and C gene segments are nearly identical in sequence to cDNA clones analyzed previously. The C segment is somewhat more similar and the J segment considerably more similar in sequence to the corresponding segments of mammalian kappa chains than to those of mammalian lambda chains. Upstream of the J segment is a typical recombination signal sequence with a spacer of 23 bp, as in J kappa. A second clone from the library contains four V gene segments, separated by 2.1 to 3.6 kb. Two of these, V1 and V3, have the expected structural and regulatory features of V genes, and are very similar in sequence to each other and to mammalian V kappa. A third gene segment, V2, resembles V1 and V3 in its coding region and nearby 5'-flanking region, but diverges in sequence 5' to position -95 with loss of the octamer promoter element. The fourth V-like segment is similar to the others at the 3'-end, but upstream of codon 64 bears no resemblance in sequence to any Ig V region. All four V segments have typical recombination signal sequences with 12-bp spacers at their 3'-ends, as in V kappa. Taken together, the data suggest that Xenopus L1 L chain genes are members of the kappa gene family.     

A linkage map of the mouse immunoglobulin lambda light chain locus

The mouse immunoglobulin lambda light chain locus has been linked using field inversion gel electrophoresis. The lambda light chain locus classically contains two V and four J-C gene segments in inbred mouse strains, and was physically mapped in the BALB/c cell line Wehi-3 which contains unrearranged lambda light chain gene segments. The locus is relatively small and spans 300 kb, as defined by a variety of single and double digests using methylation-sensitive restriction enzymes. The order of the lambda gene segments is V2-J2C2J4C4-V1-J3C3J1C1, as was originally proposed. No evidence for nonmethylated CpG rich areas (HTF islands) within the region was found. Fine mapping using the 1, 3 rearranged cell line J558 mapped the gap between the V and J-C gene segments in the lambda 1 gene cluster (VI-J3C3JIC1) to approximately 70 kb. The similar distance (60–100 kb) found in the lambda 2 gene cluster (V2-J2C2J4C4) is further evidence that duplication of an ancestral locus occurred.     

Somatic point mutations in unrearranged immunoglobulin gene segments encoding the variable region of lambda light chains.

Somatic point mutations are usually found in the coding and flanking regions of functionally and aberrantly rearranged immunoglobulin variable region gene segments. Mutations in the unrearranged V gene segments of myelomas or hybridomas have not been described so far. We have cloned and sequenced unrearranged V lambda gene segments from several cell lines. There were no nucleotide changes in four unrearranged V lambda segments: one V lambda 1 from a lambda 3-producing hybridoma and one V lambda 2 from a lambda 1-producing myeloma (J558) and two V lambda 2 from a kappa-producing myeloma (P3X63). However, we found somatic mutations in the unrearranged V lambda segments from the lambda 2-producing myeloma MOPC315. The unrearranged V lambda 1 gene segment had two mutations in the coding region and the unrearranged V lambda 2 had one mutation in the 3' flanking region. We also cloned and sequenced the unrearranged J lambda and C lambda gene segments of MOPC315 and found no sequence alterations. This is consistent with the notion that the overall mutation rate is not higher in this cell line. Therefore, we suggest that the somatic hypermutation system can use unrearranged V gene segments as substrates. The extensive sequencing required for this work revealed a number of errors in the reported nucleotide sequences of the Ig lambda locus in BALB/c mice.     

Primary structure of the variable region of a human lambda VI light chain: Bence Jones protein SUT

To ascertain if lambda VI light chains have unique structural features that account for the preferential association of these proteins with primary or multiple myeloma-related amyloidosis (amyloidosis AL) we have determined the complete amino acid sequence of the variable (V) region of the lambda VI Bence Jones protein SUT. This protein, obtained from a patient with amyloidosis AL, represents a complete light chain consisting of 216 residues and it has structural and serologic properties characteristic for lambda VI light chains. The sequence of the joining segment (J) (positions 100 to 111) of protein SUT is identical to that of the J lambda I segment of the mouse IG lambda light chain gene. V region SUT is closely homologous in sequence to that of another lambda VI amyloid fibrillar protein, AR, differing by 21 residues. The V regions of proteins SUT and AR contain a two-residue insertion at positions 68 and 69 that has also been found in two other lambda VI human light chains but not in the lambda-chains of other V region subgroups.     

Mouse immunoglobulin gene rearrangements. The sequence of a nonexpressed lambda 3-chain gene

A functionally defective lambda 3-immunoglobulin chain gene has been cloned from plasmacytoma HOPC-1 (gamma 2b, lambda 1). The lambda 3 gene resulted from the juxtaposition of the germline V lambda 1 sequence with a J lambda 3 C lambda 3 gene segment. DNA sequencing of the rearranged V lambda 1 J lambda 3 exon showed the presence of a single base pair deletion at the site of V-J joining. The alteration in the reading frame caused by this deletion generated a stop codon at the 3' end of J lambda 3, thus rendering this gene nonfunctional for light chain production. In addition, a one-point mutation in the J lambda 3-C lambda 3 intron distinguishes the rearranged gene from the unrearranged counterpart. The implications that this rearrangement has in terms of the mechanism of somatic mutations and of selective proliferation of B cells mediated by antigen stimulation are discussed.     

Nucleotide sequence of a chromosomal rearranged lambda 2 immunoglobulin gene of mouse.

The rearranged lambda 2 gene of the mouse plasmacytoma cell line MOPC315 has been cloned and sequenced. A comparison of its sequence with the sequence of the unrearranged (germ-line) V, J and C gene segments shows that the sequences of the V gene segments differ at six positions. The sequence of the J and C gene segments remained unchanged. These results add support to the hypothesis that somatic mutations occur in immunoglobulin in genes and that these mutations do not involve the C gene segment. The degree of homology of the elements of the lambda 2 gene with those of the lambda 1 gene and C lambda 3 and C lambda 4 gene fragments suggest a pathway of evolution by gene duplication of the immunoglobulin lambda light chain locus. According to this scheme the original structure V0-J0C0 gave rise to a structure V0-J1C1-J11C11 by duplication of the J0C0 region. A second duplication encompassing the whole region resulted in the present structure: V1-J3C3-J1C1/V2-J2C2-J4C4.     

The immunoglobulin lambda locus in rat consists of two C lambda genes and a single V lambda gene

The immunoglobin lambda locus of the rat has been studied. Germ-line V lambda and C lambda genes were isolated from recombinant-phage libraries and characterized by nucleotide sequencing. The results showed that the lambda locus of the rat contains one single V lambda gene and two C lambda genes, thus representing one of the least complex lambda loci so far characterized. The two C lambda genes are separated by a spacer approx. 3 kb long. Two J segments are located at the 5' side of each C lambda gene. One of the C lambda genes (C lambda 1) probably represents a pseudogene, as the J lambda 1 segments have non-functional recombination and splice signals. The organization of the rat lambda locus resembles that of mouse, except that only one cluster is present in the rat. Thus since the evolutionary separation of the rat and mouse species ten MYR ( = 10(6) years) ago, either one cluster has been lost from the rat, or duplicated in the mouse.     

Two rearranged immunoglobulin kappa light chain genes in one mouse myeloma.

The organization of immunoglobulin gene segments coding for kappa light chains has been studied in uncloned and cloned DNA from mouse liver and a mouse myeloma. It is known that the C (constant, ref. 2) gene segment is present in the tumor DNA on two EcoRI fragments of 14 and 20 kb and in liver DNA on a 15 kb fragment. The 14 kb myeloma and the 15 kb liver fragment have been cloned previously. Here we report on the cloning of the 20 kb myeloma fragment and present detailed restriction maps covering about 22 kb of DNA surrounding the C gene segment in liver and tumor DNA. The region on the 20 kb fragment has been localized where a DNA rearrangement had occurred. The presence of two rearranged kappa light chain genes in one tumor is discussed in regard to the molecular basis of allelic exclusion.     

Activity of multiple light chain genes in murine myeloma cells producing a single, functional light chain

Two cloned lambda 1-producing myelomas (HOPC-1, MOPC-104E) contain rearranged kappa genes and levels of mature-sized kappa RNA comparable to those found in kappa-producing myeloma cells. Another lambda 1-producing myeloma tumor line (HOPC-2020) and a lambda 1-containing B cell leukemia line (BCL1) also contain significant levels of kappa RNA. One lambda 11-producing line (MOPC-315) contains no detectable kappa RNA, but it also has no kappa genes in the embryonic configuration. kappa-related proteins are not detectable in the lambda 1-producing lines by standard procedures, but by sensitive methods at least two lines contain kappa protein fragments. The MOPC-104E line produces both a 14.5K kappa fragment that is not readily detectable because of its low rate of synthesis and short half-life (T 1/2 less than 5 min), and a major 16.5K protein that lacks kappa cross reactivity but is demonstrable by translation of purified MOPC-104E kappa RNA. The HOPC-1 kappa RNA also encodes a short-lived 14K kappa fragment. The MPC-11 line, which produces a mature kappa RNA and protein as well as an 800 base kappa fragment RNA and kappa protein fragment, has both kappa alleles rearranged, one apparently aberrantly between J and C kappa. Two different kappa RNA species, one the same size as the MPC-11 kappa fragment RNA, frequently are present in kappa RNA-containing Abelson murine leukemia virus-transformed lymphoid cells as well as in 18 and 19 day murine fetal liver. For light chains, neither allelic nor isotype exclusion is generally evident in myeloma and lymphoma cells; rather both produce only a single functional light chain. Models of light chain activation must explain restriction by considering the functional properties of the light chain rather than light chain gene expression.     

Transposition of lambda placMu is mediated by the A protein altered at its carboxy-terminal end

Lambda placMu phages are derivatives of bacteriophage lambda that use the transposition machinery of phage Mu to insert into chromosomal and cloned genes. When inserted in the proper fashion, these phages yield stable fusions to the Escherichia coli lac operon in a single step. We have determined the amount of DNA from the c end of phage Mu present in one of these phages, lambda placMu3, and have shown that this phage carries a 3137-bp fragment of Mu DNA. This DNA segment carries the Mu c-end attachment site and encodes the Mu genes cts62, ner+, and gene A lacking 179 bp at its 3' end (A'). The product of this truncated gene A' retains transposase activity and is sufficient for the transposition of lambda placMu. This was demonstrated by showing that lambda placMu derivatives carrying the A am1093 mutation in the A' gene are unable to transpose by themselves in a Su- strain, but their transposition can be triggered by coinfection with lambda pMu507(A+ B+). We have constructed several new lambda placMu phages that carry the A' am1093 gene and the kan gene, which confers resistance to kanamycin. Chromosomal insertions of these new phages are even more stable than those of the previously reported lambda placMu phages, which makes them useful tools for genetic analysis.