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L Hood

Publications and source records attributed to L Hood.

At least 397 records · Page 22Linked to original sources
PubMed1976

Preliminary amino acid sequences of transplantation antigens: genetic and evolutionary implications.

Preliminary amino acid sequence data on the transplantation antigens of mouse and man have led to provocative hypotheses about the genetic organization and evolution of genes coded by the major histocompatibility complex of mammals. New microsequencing techniques should permit a detailed analysis of these gene products and an eventual choice among the alternative hypotheses now posed. These data have made it apparent that the H-2 complex is a fascinating and complicated chromosomal region which will continue for some time to intrigue immunologists, geneticists, biochemists, and cell biologists.

Alleles↗
PubMed1976

A mathematical approach to the analysis of diversity in antibody gene families.

In this article, we develop a mathematical approach for the analysis of diversity in antibody gene families. This approach is arrived at by examing two general questions about protein populations: (1) What is a relative measure of the diversity exhibited by one protein family when compared with a second? (2) What is the probability that two protein populations were derived from a single common population? These quantitative approaches permit a variety of precise evolutionary, genetic, and developmental questions to be asked of antibody gene families. Using this methodology, we demonstrate that the diversity in mouse K-immunoglobulin chains is considerably greater than in their human K counterparts. We also show that the variable (Vl) regions of light chains associated with IgG and IgA immunoglobulins in the mouse appear to have been derived from a common population of Vl genes. This approach also can be used to analyse sequence data from other informational multigene families.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1976

Structure and evolution of transplantation antigens: partial amino-acid sequences of H-2K and H-2D alloantigens.

Techniques for the amino acid sequence analysis of subnanomole quantities of polypeptides have been applied to characterize beta2-microglobulin and transplantation antigens of the mouse isolated from spleen cells by indirect immunoprecipitation. Eleven residues were identified throughout the NH2-terminal 27 residues of the beta2-microglobulin; all were identical to residues seen at the corresponding positions of beta2-microglobulins from other species. Two K and two D transplantation antigens were examined and the following generalizations emerged from the limited partial amino-acid sequence data: (1) the K and D molecules are homologous to one another; (2) they do not show amino acid sequence homology with immunoglobulins; (3) the two K and two D molecules differ from one another by multiple amino acid substitutions; and (4) the K molecules as a class cannot be distinguished from the D molecules as a class. The genetic and evolutionary implications of these observations are discussed.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1976

Antibody differentiation: apparent sequence identity between variable regions shared by IgA and IgG immunoglobulins.

We have analyzed a pair of human myeloma immunoglobulins (biclonal proteins) of the IgG and IgA classes from a single patient, GR. The light chains are identical in amino-acid sequence over 40 residues at their NH2-terminus, hwereas the heavy chains are identical throughout 45 residues of their NH2-terminus. Additional chemical and serological studies suggest the light chains and variable regions of the heavy chains (VH) are very similar, if not identical. The implications of these and of other published studies are discussed with regard to (i) the association of one VH region with multiple constant regions of the heavy chain (CH regions), (ii) two alternative types of V-C joining mechanisms, (iii) the differentiation of antibody-producing cells, and (iv) three categories of biclonal immunoglobulins.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1976

Immunoglobulin allotypes of rabbit kappa chains: polymorphism of a control mechanism regulating closely linked duplicated genes?

The amino acid sequence of the constant (CK) region from the kappa immunoglobulin chains of a b9 rabbit is compared with the CK sequences, taken from the literature, of a b4 rabbit. These CK regions differ by 33% of their amino acid sequences and by three sequence insertions or deletions (sequence gaps). These extensive differences together with other published observations suggest that the b9 and b4 CK genes may not be simple alleles, but rather they may be encoded by closely linked CK genes present in every rabbit whose expression is regulated by a polymorphic control mechanism.

Alleles↗
PubMed1976

Characterization of 80-million-year-old mollusk shell proteins.

Fossil glycoproteins of the soluble organic matrix are present in an 80-million-year-old mollusk shell from the Late Cretaceous Period. Discrete molecular weight components, as determined by gel electrophoresis, are preserved. The fossil organic matrix was compared with the organic matrix of a living representative species of the same superfamily. A particular repeating amino acid sequence, found in contemporary mollusk shell proteins, was identified in the fossil glycoproteins. The ultrastructure, mineralogy, and chemistry of the inorganic components of the fossil and contemporary shells provide information on the state of preservation of the fossil. The use of fossil shell proteins to further our understanding of molecular evolution is discussed.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1976

Antibody genes and other multigene families.

The multigene family is a unit of chromosomal organization. Its gene members are closely linked, homologous in sequence, and have overlapping functions. Multigene families can be divided into three categories - simple-sequence, multiplicational, and information - by a variety of structural and functional criteria. Multigene families exhibit two novel evolutionary features - coincidental evolution and rapid change in family size - that suggest that they all share one or more evolutionary mechanisms. Natural selection cannot act directly on individual genes in a family because of their identical or overlapping functions; hence selection must operate on the family as a whole or on blocks of genes within the family. The mechanism(s) for coincidental evolution expand out variant genes within a family so they can be acted on by natural selection, and accordingly, permit multigene families to evolve adaptively. The close linkage of the genes in a family appears to be a consequence of the fact that their ocntrol and evolutionary mechanisms may only operate on tandemly linked genes. New multigene families may evolve from a single gene or from other multigene families. In addition to evolving new functions, the latter mode of evolution generate a new multigene family whose members are preadapted to interact with those of the old family. These family interactions can lead to the evolution of more sophisticated molecular machines or to the regulation of one family by the second. Multigene families may be large or small. The three categories of multigene families allow potential multigene families to be identified and they suggest specific experimental approaches for the study of new families. Some of the most interesting genetic systems under investigation today are known or potential informational multigene families. This is not fortuitous in that many of the most interesting aspects of phenotype are complex ones with correspondingly complex genetic, evolutionary, and regulatory requirements. One of the frontiers in modern genetics is the identification characterization, and understanding of informational multigene families.

Alleles↗
PubMed1975

Structure and regulation of immunoglobulins: kappa allotypes in the rat have multiple amino-acid differences in the constant region.

Immunoglobulin kappa chains from various inbred strains of rats have two serologically detectable forms that segregate in a Mendelian fashion (allotypes a and b of the RI-I locus). Partial amino-acid sequences from the constant regions of these two forms have been compared. Of the 81 residues of the constant region studied, 10 amino-acid substitutions as well as one size difference (sequence gap) were found. This large number of sequence differences among alternative forms of the kappa allotype raises provocative questions as to the genetic and evolutionary implications of these light chain allotypes. We designate allotypes whose alternative forms differ at multiple residue positions as complex allotypes. There are basically two genetic models that might explain complex allotypes. First, these allotypes are alleles of a single structural gene with an unusual evolutionary history. Second, all rats have genes that code for each of the light chain allotypes and a control mechanism that permits them to be expressed so that they mimic a Mendelian pattern of segregation. We discuss evidence from other immunoglobulin systems that is compatible with this second model.

Alleles↗
PubMed1975

The organization, expression, and evolution of antibody genes and other multigene families.

The multigene family is a unit of chromosomal organization. Its gene members are closely linked, homologous in sequence, and have overlapping functions. Multigene families can be divided into three catagories: simple-sequence, multiplicational, and informational-by a variety of structural and functional criteria. Multigene families exhibit two novel evolutionary features-coincidental evolution and rapid change in family size-that suggest that they all share one or more evolutionary mechanisms. Natural selection cannot act directly upon individual genes in a family because of their identical or overlapping functions; hence selection must operate upon the family as a whole or upon blocks of genes within the family. The mechanism(s) for coincidental evolution expands out variant genes within a family so they can be acted upon by natural selection and, accordingly, permits multigene families to evolve adaptively. The control mechanisms in multiplicational families appear to promote the rapid expression of many gene copies. In contrast, the regulatory mechanisms of informational families promote the selection, expression, and amplification of appropriate units of information. The close linkage of the genes in a family appears to be a consequence of the fact that their control and evolutionary mechanisms may only operate on tandemly linked genes. New multigene families may evolve from a single gene or from other multigene families. In addition to evolving new functions, the latter mode of evolution generates a new multigene family whose members are preadapted to interact with those of the old family. These family interactions can lead to the evolution of more sophisticated molecular machines or to the regulation of one family by a second. Multigene families may be large or small. The three catagories of multigene families allow potential multigene families to be identified, and they suggest specific experimental approaches for the study of new families. Some of the most interesting genetic systems under the investigation today are known or potential informational multigene families. This is not fortuitous in that many of the most interesting aspects of phenotype are complex ones with correspondingly complex genetic, evolutionary, and regulatory requirements. One of the frontiers in modern genetics is the identification, characterization, and understanding of informational multigene families.

Alleles↗
PubMed1974

Immunoglobulin structure: amino terminal sequences of mouse myeloma proteins that bind phosphorylcholine.

The amino terminal sequences of five light and heavy immunoglobulin chains from myeloma proteins of the BALB/c mouse with binding activity to phosphorylcholine are presented. Except for a single substitution in position 4, all five heavy chains have identical amino terminal sequences through the first hypervariable region. Proteins which share unique (idiotypic) antigenic determinants are identical through the first hypervariable region of their light and heavy chains. Proteins with differing idiotypic determinants have light chains of differing amino acid sequence. These observations suggest that the heavy chain plays a more important role than the light chain in determining the phosphorylcholine binding site.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1974

Mouse immunoglobulin heavy chains are coded by multiple germ line variable region genes.

The N-terminal 20 residues of 13 heavy immunoglobulin chains from myeloma protein of the BALB/c mouse are compared with the same residues of 15 other heavy chains described in the literature. Sixteen of 28 sequences are different from one another. These proteins fall into four major sets, with 18 of the proteins in the largest set being further divisible into at least five subsets. This pattern of diversity suggests there are at least eight germ line genes coding for the variable regions of mouse heavy chain. Many of the immunoglobulins from which these heavy chains are derived exhibit binding activity for various haptens. The differing hapten specificities are closely correlated with distinct primary amino-acid sequences.

Amino Acid Sequence↗