Journal of Experimental Medicine, Vol 149, 1477-1486, Copyright © 1979 by Rockefeller University Press
Ef2: a new LY-3-linked light-chain marker expressed in normal mouse serum immunoglobulin
DM Gibson and SJ MacLean
A new light-chain marker has been detected in normal mouse serum
immunoglobulin light chains by gel isoelectric focusing. The marker (Ef2)
involves the presence of two major and several minor bands in the normal
light-chain IF profiles. Strains expressing the marker IF bands are
designated Igk-Ef2a, whereas those lacking the bands are Igk-Ef2b. The
majority of inbred strains are Igk-Ef2a. Strains found to be Igk- Ef2b are
NZB/BlNJ, BDP/J, C58/J, I/LnJ, CE/J, and P/J. The strain distribution of
the alleles differs from the distribution of alleles at the Ly-2 and Ly-3
loci, suggesting the new marker may represent a separate locus. Genetic
studies have shown that Igk-Ef2 locus is closely linked to Igk-Ef1 and Hd
loci on Chromosome 6, indicating that it is also closely linked to Ly-3.
The relative importance of the bands controlled by the Igk-Ef2 locus
suggests that the entire normal light- chain pool could be controlled by as
few as 100 such loci.