Ratio of Kappa to Lambda Genes

2015-01-13

azim58 - Ratio of Kappa to Lambda Genes

In mice and humans, there are more kappa genes than lambda genes.

Here is an excerpt from Immunobiology Janeway 6th edition (pg. 131):
Two types of light chain, termed lambda (1) and kappa (K), are found in
antibodies
A given immunoglobulin has either K chains or h chains, never one of
each. No functional difference has been found between antibodies having h
or K light chains, and either type of light chain can be found in
antibodies of
any of the five major classes. The ratio of the two types of light chain
varies
from species to species. In mice, the average K to h ratio is 20:1,
whereas in
humans it is 2:l and in cattle it is 1:20. The reason for this variation
is unknown.
Distortions of this ratio can sometimes be used to detect the abnormal
proliferation of a clone of B cells These would all express the identical
light chain, and thus an excess of h light chains in a person might
indicate the
presence of a B-cell tumor producing h chains.

azim58wiki: