Nucleotide sequence of a cDNA encoding the constant region of a rabbit immunoglobulin light chain of the lambda type.

A cDNA library has been constructed in the plasmid pBR322 using as template 12 S poly(A)-RNA isolated from spleen cells of a hyperimmunized Basilea rabbit. One of these cDNA-containing clones was used to determine the nucleotide sequence coding for the lambda light chain constant (C) region. The deduced amino acid sequence of this cDNA was found in good agreement with a Basilea rabbit C lambda region amino acid sequence previously determined. The nucleotide sequence of the rabbit C lambda-coding region was compared with man, mouse and chicken C lambda sequences and showed 78%, 72% and 66% homology, respectively. Southern blot hybridization analyses of liver DNA from various rabbits were carried out. The comparison of the restriction patterns suggests that a few C lambda-related genes occur in the rabbit genome. In addition, discrete differences in the restriction patterns may exist between rabbits of different genetic backgrounds.