Nucleotide sequence of constant and 3' untranslated regions of a kappa immunoglobulin light chain mRNA of a homozygous b4 rabbit.

A homozygous a2/a2 and b4/b4 rabbit has been hyperimmunized with Micrococcus lysodeikticus. Poly(A)-containing RNA has been isolated from the spleen and translated in vitro, and translation products have been analyzed by NaDodSO4/polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Double-stranded cDNA has been synthesized from poly(A)-containing RNA template and inserted in the Pst I endonuclease site of plasmid pBR322 by using the oligo(dC).oligo(dG) tailing procedure. Tetracycline-resistant ampicillin-sensitive clones containing cDNA complementary to a kappa light chain mRNA have been selected by differential screening and their ability to hybridize to a spleen mRNA having the same size as a mouse kappa light chain mRNA. Two clones, pRk-15 and pRk-32, have been selected to determine the nucleotide sequence of the constant and 3' untranslated regions of kappa light chain mRNA, by the Maxam and Gilbert partial degradation method. Comparison of homologous regions of mouse kappa chain mRNA and b4 rabbit kappa chain mRNA reveals 61% homology in the constant region and 59% homology in the 3' untranslated region.