Characterisation of the kappa light chain of the brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula).
Belov, K., Harrison, G. A., Miller, R. D., and Cooper, D. W.
Abstract:
Two full length cDNA sequences encoding the kappa light chain of the
Australian marsupial, Trichosurus vulpecula, the brushtail possum, were
isolated from a mesenteric lymph node cDNA library. The constant regions
(C kappa) of the two light chains were identical, but the variable (V kappa)
and joining (J kappa) regions were different. At the amino acid level,
possum C kappa was most similar to C kappa of an American marsupial,
Monodelphis domestica (75%), with similarity to eutherian C kappa ranging
from 47 to 63%. The availability of molecular data will enable the
development of immunological reagents for studying immune responses
and disease in marsupials, thereby aiding conservation strategies and
veterinary medicine.