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Quantitative and Qualitative Analysis of Human IgG Subclass Specific mRNA Using Solution Hybridization
Author(s) -
SIDERAS P.,
NILSSON L.,
ISLAM K. B.,
ERICSSON H.,
HAMMARSTRöM L.,
SMITH C. I. E.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
scandinavian journal of immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.934
H-Index - 88
eISSN - 1365-3083
pISSN - 0300-9475
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-3083.1991.tb01579.x
Subject(s) - subclass , gene , messenger rna , biology , coding region , microbiology and biotechnology , genetics , gene expression , exon , rna , nucleic acid thermodynamics , nucleotide , computational biology , antibody
Four IgG subclasses have been identified in the human system. Despite the tact that they exhibit differences in their functional properties, antigenic properties and chemical composition and demonstrate age‐related shifts in their expression, the genes coding for their constant regions show extensive homology at the nucleotide level (> 95%). The only parts of the Cγ genes that show significant variation among the different IgG subclasses are the exons coding for their hinge regions (< 60%). Taking advantage of such sequence variation, we have developed specific RNA probes which allowed us to analyse the expression of the Cγ1. Cγ2, Cγ3 and Cγ4 genes al the mRNA level using solution hybridization. We have defined optimal conditions that allow the detection of picogram levels of IgG subclass specific mRNA, while keeping the cross‐reactivity between the different probes below 2%. This approach will significantly facilitate studies aiming at characterizing the molecular mechanisms regulating the expression of the four human IgG heavy chain constant region genes.