Correlation between fragmented immunoglobulin genes and heavy chain deletion mutants.

It is generally accepted that the variable (V) and constant (C) regions of immunoglobulin (Ig) chains are under separate genetic control. The notion that the different domains and interdomain regions are also under the control of independent genetic units was initially based on the clearcut results obtained by studying the primary structure of deletion mutants and received definitive support from direct analysis of cloned heavy (H) and light (L) chain genes. Here we present additional studies carried out on two selected gamma 3 deletion mutants which indicate the genetic control of human H chains may be even more complex than previously believed.