Gene kappa light chain

NF-xB, originally defined as the enhancer of kappa light-chain expression in B lymphocytes, is a hcterodimeric protein that can rapidly activate several genes associated with the inflammatory process (reviewed by Schreck et al., 1992). The DNA binding, nuclear form, of NF-xB is a heterodimer composed of one Rel-A (65 kD) and one p50 (50 kD) subunit. However, both subunits can form homodimers that also have DNA-binding activity. The inactive form of NF-xB in non-stimulated cells is localized to the cytoplasm of resting cells, and is bound to its inhibitor IxB. 

Blackwell, T.K., Malynn, B.A., Pollock, R.R., Fenier, P., Covey, L.R., Fulop, G.M., Phillips, R.A., Yancopoulos, G.D., Alt F.W. (1989). Isolation of scid pre-B cells that rearrange kappa light chain genes formation of normal signal and abnormal coding joins. EMBO J. 8,735-742. 

Faust, C.H., Diggelmann, H., Mach, B. (1974). Estimation of the number of genes coding for the constant part of the mouse immunoglobulin kappa light chain. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 71, 2491-2495. 

Steinmetz, M., Zachau, H.G., Mach, B. (1979). Cloning of immunoglobulin kappa light chain genes from mouse liver and myeloma MOPC 173. Nucleic Acids Res. 6,3213-3229. 

The eukaryotic transcription factor NF-kB was identified as a protein that binds specifically to a decameric DNA sequence (ggg ACT TTC C), within the intronic enhancer of the immunoglobulin kappa light chain in mature B and plasma cells, but not pre-B cells [32, 33]. This transcription factor consists of homo- or heterodimers of different subunits which are members of a family of structurally related proteins (Rel/NF-icB proteins). NF-kB has been detected in most cell types, and specific NF-kB binding sites have been identified in promoters and enhancers of numerous inducible genes. Thus, it has been shown that NF-kB plays a pivotal role in the coordinated transactivation of many genes involved in cytokine-mediated inflammation. 

Primers for the detection of the kappa light chain Ig k) gene rearrangement ... 

BIOMED-2 primers for the detection of the kappa light chain (Ig k) gene rearrangement. The multiplex PCR is carried out in two tubes (A andB). The first (A tube) with the first six V k forward primers (FP) and both A (J k) reverse primers (RP), the second (B tube) vfith all seven forward primers and the B (Kde region) reverse primer. 

Bertocci, B., De Smet, A., Berek, C., Weill, J. C., and Reynaud, C. A. (2003). Immunoglobulin kappa light chain gene rearrangement is impaired in mice deficient for DNA polymerase mu. Immunity 19, 203-211. 

Smith, M. M., and Huang, R. C. C., 1976, Transcription in vitro of immunoglobulin kappa light chain genes in isolated mouse myeloma nuclei and chromatin, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 73 775. 

Rose, S.M., Kuehl, W.M., Smith, G.P. (1977). Cloned MPC 11 myeloma cells express two kappa genes a gene for a complete light chain and a gene for a constant region polypeptide. Cell 12, 453-462. 

NF-kB (nuclear factor-kappa B) is a transcription factor so named because its first identified binding site is located within an enhancer in the Ig k light chain gene in mature B cells. The functional NF-kB is a homo- or heterodimer of homologous proteins that share a common structure motif called the Rel domain. The Rel family in the vertebrate includes five cellular proteins p50 (NF-kB 1), p52 (NF-kB2), p65 (RelA), RelB, and c-Rel. The most common NF-kB consists of a p65 p50 heterodimer, but there exists a variety of homodimers and heterdimers, each of which activates its own characteristic set of genes. 

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