Expression of T cell receptor genes in an antigen-specific hybridoma and radiation-induced variants.

We have analyzed a series of mutants derived from a KLH-specific, I-E-restricted T hybridoma (FN1-18) which have lost antigen-reactivity while retaining both T cell receptor idiotypic determinants and the ability to respond to Con A. The variants have not gained any detectable alloreactivity, nor is there an obvious lesion in the mutants' beta chain DNA containing the utilized beta chain genes. This loss of antigen reactivity is due to a failure of stable production of the specific V beta-containing mRNA. Our results indicate that in FN1-18, the T cell receptor antigenic determinants are most likely carried by the alpha chain alone or by a complementation product of the V alpha FN1-18 with the V beta of BW5147. V beta FN1-18 represents a previously undescribed T cell receptor V region.