The rabbit VH region has been the subject of extensive and continued serological and biochemical analysis during the past three decades. Four VH subgroups (a, x, y, w) have been characterized, each of which displays a distinct set of allelic products (allotypes). However, despite years of study, certain basic phenomena associated with VH allotype expression remain unexplained. For these, and other reasons we have undertaken the analysis of the rabbit VH gene complex at the level of the DNA. / In this report, we present the sequence of a rabbit VH gene (pRVH831), which was selected from a rabbit genomic library using the mouse VH gene, pS107V1, as a cross-species hybridization probe. Our analysis reveals that pRVH831 is a highly defective VH pseudogene. It contains three deletions toward the 3' end, which cause a frameshift mutation in FR3 and cripple the D region splice site. / We have determined that pRVH831 is a member of the VH subgroup III. When used as a probe in filter hybridization experiments pRVH831 reveals 10-15 VH subgroup III genes, a number consistent with results obtained in human and murine systems. Furthermore, our analysis of the predicted translational product of pRVH831 confirms that at least some rabbit VHa-negative genes are members of the VH subgroup III. We have also examined genomic DNA obtained from pedigreed rabbits of different VH haplotypes. These data reveal haplotype specific hybridization patterns and support previous indications that recombination in the rabbit VH gene complex is extremely rare. / When the sequence of pRVH831 was analysed for internal repetitiveness, three similar copies (73-90%) of a 14-15 bp sequence were detected. These sequences are located in FR1, CDR1, and CDR2. Our analysis indicates that this repeat is homologous to a portion of a primordial VH sequence. However, this is also the same sequence which appears in the human D minigenes and in some CDR2s. We have determined that this sequence occurs in many VH genes, T cell receptor genes, and can contain Chi and Chi-like recombination sequences from lambda phage. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 46-01, Section: B, page: 0056. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1984.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:fsu.edu/oai:fsu.digital.flvc.org:fsu_75506 |
| Contributors | LASTER, SCOTT MATTHEW., Florida State University |
| Source Sets | Florida State University |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Text |
| Format | 151 p. |
| Rights | On campus use only. |
| Relation | Dissertation Abstracts International |
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