Physical linkage of variable, diversity and joining gene segments in the immunoglobulin heavy chain locus of the mouse.

The variable region of antibody heavy chains is encoded by multiple variable (V), diversity (D) and joining (J) gene segments which seem to be assembled in a programmed developmental pathway during the maturation of B lymphocytes. A physical map linking V, D and J gene segments in the a haplotype of the murine Igh locus is presented in this report. The V gene located next to the known D and J gene segments maps 80 kb upstream of the JH locus and is a member of the VGAM3.8 V gene family. There is evidence for as yet unknown D gene segments located 5' to this V gene.