Light Chain Heterogeneity of Type λ Anti-Streptococcal Group A-variant Polysaccharide Antibodies in Rabbits

Abstract

BASILEA rabbits lack the expression of ϰ-polypeptide chains and compensate for this lack with expression of A. polypeptide light chains. These rabbits were immunized with streptococcal group A-variant vaccines. The heterogeneity of the λ polypeptide chains of specific antibodies was analyzed and compared with that of ϰ light chains. No significant difference was found by SDS-PAGE and IEF in the number of light chain bands of high affinity antibody expressed. This suggests that in the rabbit the size of the variable region repertoire is similar for

λ and ϰ light chains.