Characterization of multiple immunoglobulin mu-chains synthesized by two clones of a B cell lymphoma.

We have identified 3 species of mu-chain synthesized by mouse WEHI 279 lymphoma cells that differ in cellular location, size and charge--mui (internal), mum (membrane), and mus (secreted). Lactoperoxidase and galactose oxidase labeling experiments localize the mum chain to the plasma membrane and the mui chain to the cytoplasm. Pulse-chase experiments demonstrate that the mui pool contains precursors to both mum and mus chains. Comparative peptide mapping studies and cell labeling in the presence of tunicamycin suggest that the mum chain is 2000 daltons larger than the mus chains and that the difference is due to polypeptide alterations rather than carbohydrate differences. The WEHI 279 lymphoma has differentiated while in culture to a more advanced stage in the pathway of B cell differentiation.