The Genetic Control of Antibody Variability

Abstract

This chapter reviews the genetic control of antibody variability. There is a conclusive evidence that variable and constant parts are under different genetic control and that the number of genes involved in the synthesis of the variable, and constant parts must be different. In accordance with the one-gene-one-protein dogma, it has to be assumed that the C-terminal part of one chain type is controlled by one gene. This assumption is confirmed by the localization of genetic factors or allotypes on the C-terminal part of κ type proteins. The factors that are alleles segregate in a simple Mendelian manner. This means that the gene controlling the C-terminal part occurs only once in the germ line. Tandemly duplicated C-genes would imply that evolution, which results in different but for every species constant C-terminal parts in the immunoglobulins of man and mouse, works in a parallel but identical way, which seems to be very unlikely. Most of the exchanges between proteins within one subgroup can be explained by single base mutation in the triplet coding for that particular exchanged amino acid