DNA sequence patterns in human, mouse, and rabbit immunoglobulin kappa-genes.

DNA sequences of the human, mouse, and rabbit immunoglobulin kappa-gene (J-C regions) are compared with respect to various DNA patterns, including dyad symmetry pairings, runs of nucleotides, repeat clusters, and repeats that occur with unusually high frequency. The significant dyad symmetry pairings within each of the sequences emphasize the two "control-enhancer" elements of the J5-C intron. Dyad symmetry pairs between the J-C region and a number of kappa variable (V)-gene domains suggest differences in the affinities between the V and J segments. It is the "consensus heptamer" rather than the "consensus nonamer" that embodies the longest V-J dyad symmetry combinations. In the rabbit there are long runs and repeat clusters of the sequences that identify regions of high duplication; these regions are absent in the human and mouse sequences. High-frequency oligonucleotides feature the consensus nonamer 5' to the J segments, especially in the mouse sequence.