The Ig germline gene repertoire: economy or wastage?

Abstract

BALB/c V H and V K germline genes of the GAT system exist in large families. Here, Michel Fougereau and his colleagues report that they are used in many antibodies of discrete specificities. They propose that only a small number of genes (including V H and V K GAT) are functionally active and are used either in their germline configuration or after somatic conversion involving the large pool provided by the other genes (including pseudogenes) of the corresponding family. This hypothesis reconciles the paradox that although there appear to be many V genes, only a few are expressed.