A member of a new VH gene family encodes antibromelinized mouse red blood cell autoantibodies.

A cDNA clone encoding the variable region of the heavy chain of a BALB/c antibromelinized mouse red blood cell (BrMRBC) monoclonal antibody has been characterized. The nucleic acid sequence indicates that the variable region of the heavy chain is likely encoded by variable-VCP12, diversity-DSP 2 (5, 7 or 8) and joining-JH1 germ-line genes. An identical combination of V genes was observed for six other CBA/J and NZB anti-BrMRBC hybridomas. The BALB/c VCP12 nucleotide sequence is less than 80% homologous to members of the 10 known VH families. Moreover, the genomic restriction fragments detected under moderate stringency conditions with the radiolabeled cDNA probe did not correspond to those obtained with probes of the most homologous VH families (7183 and X24). The results indicate that the VCP12 gene defines a new VH family which we propose to designate VH11. The observation of 1, 2 or 3 genomic restriction fragments at the most, with mice bearing the Igh-Vd or j, Igh-Va or b or Igh-Vc haplotypes, suggests the existence of a few VCP12-related genes.