Murine V(κ) gene expression does not follow the V(H) paradigm

Abstract

V(κ) gene family expression among LPS-reactive murine B lymphocytes, unlike that of V(H) gene families, is not proportional to genomic complexity, i.e., nonstoichiometric. Furthermore, no positional bias for the overexpression of J-proximal V(κ) genes (V(κ)21) is observed among neonatal B lymphocytes. Yet, the V(κ)1 and V(κ)9 families located in the center of V(κ) locus are preferentially used by neonatal B splenocytes. Thus, the mechanisms of V(κ) gene rearrangement and expression appear to differ significantly from those controlling the V(H) locus.