V-GENES OF OXAZOLONE ANTIBODIES IN 10 STRAINS OF MICE

One pair of V genes (V-kappa 45.1 and V11) code for a great portion of phenyloxazolone (anti-phOx) antibodies in 10 strains of mice. This combination replaces the first-known major combination V(H)Ox1-V-kappa-Ox1 in some strains, and is important in most strains. C57BL/10 and SJL mice have an additional subset of antibodies encoded by genes V-kappa-45.1 and V13 (a relative of V11). All three genes involved (V-kappa-45.1, V11 and V13) have "allelic" variation. Four alleles of V11 were found, one in Igh haplotypes a, c and g, the second in haplotypes d, j and n, the third in b, and the fourth in f. The most distant alleles d,j,n and f had 10 nucleotide differences out of 429 determined (97.7% homology). Only one allele of the V13 gene was found from anti-phOx hybridomas but two others have been published. Three alleles of the V-kappa-45.1 gene were found; one in NZB mice (Ig-kappa haplotype b) another in CE (haplotype f), and the third in eight strains including representatives of three Ig-kappa haplotypes (a, c and e). The three alleles had > 99.0% homology. The V11 and V13 genes that code for anti-phOx antibodies in C57BL/10 and SJL mice were different from the related genes found from the C57BL/10 germ line. C57BL/10 mice must have a chromosome bearing two V11 and two V13 genes. RF mice were found to have two V11 genes, and both code for anti-phOx antibodies. Our data show that the majority of antibodies in the anti-phOx response are encoded by the same restricted collection of V genes in most mouse strains. Antibody responses appear to be no less heritable than other functions of the body.