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. 1970 Jul;66(3):657–663. doi: 10.1073/pnas.66.3.657

A Variable Region Subclass of Heavy Chains Common to Immunoglobulins G, A, and M and Characterized by an Unblocked Amino-Terminal Residue*

A C Wang 1,2,†, J R L Pink 1,2, H H Fudenberg 1,2,‡, J Ohms 1,2
PMCID: PMC283101  PMID: 4987626

Abstract

Heavy chains of IgG, IgA, and IgM classes of human immunoglobulins were compared by N-terminal residue determination and partial amino acid sequence analysis. A third subclass of the variable region of heavy chains was observed; an unblocked glutamic acid as the N-terminal residue is characteristic of this subclass. Our results indicated that the heavy chain variable region subclasses are not class specific, and that a given heavy chain variable region may be found in association with constant regions for μ-chains, α-chains, or γ-chains of various subclasses.

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Selected References

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