Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Letters to Editor
  • Published:

Purification and Sequence of Messenger RNA for Immunoglobulin Light Chains

Nature New Biology volume 244, pages 236–240 (1973)Cite this article

Abstract

FORMAL proof of the authenticity and purity of preparations containing mRNA requires the demonstration that the molecule contains sequences corresponding to the amino acid sequence of the protein for which it codes. Sequence data on mRNA are also required to define those parts of the molecule which are not involved in coding for the final product but which may be of importance in the control of protein biosynthesis. Detailed sequence analyses of this type have so far been restricted to bacteriophage RNA. In eukaryotes, the isolation and characterization of immunoglobulin mRNA are of specific interest as a tool in the understanding of some of the unsolved problems of basic immunology. In particular, mRNA is needed for hybridization with DNA in order to estimate the number of germ line genes which contribute to antibody diversity. Preliminary work in several laboratories, and with various mouse myeloma cell lines, has shown that the mRNA for light chains can be partially purified. The final product is active in various cell free systems and gives rise to light chains1–5 or to a light chain precursor3. The RNA fraction with such activity has a sedimentation coefficient of 10 to 14S2,4 and is retained by poly(U)5 or oligo(dT) columns4.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on Springer Link
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

References

  1. Stavnezer, J., and Huang, R. C. C., Nature new Biol., 230, 172 (1971).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Brownlee, G. G., Harrison, T. M., Mathews, M. B., and Milstein, C., FEBS Lett., 23, 244 (1972).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Milstein, C., Brownlee, G. G., Harrison, T. M., and Mathews, M. B., Nature new Biol., 239, 117 (1972).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Swan, D., Aviv, H., and Leder, P., Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A., 69, 1967 (1972).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Stevens, R. H., and Williamson, A. R., Nature, 239, 143 (1972).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Brownlee, G. G., Part I of Laboratory Techniques in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (edit, by Work, T. S., and E.), 3 (North-Holland Publishing Co., Amsterdam and London, 1972).

    Google Scholar 

  7. Attardi, G., and Ojala, D., Nature new Biol., 229, 133 (1971).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Gilham, P. T., J. Am. chem. Soc., 86, 4981 (1964).

    Google Scholar 

  9. Svasti, J., and Milstein, C., Biochem. J., 128, 427 (1972).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Adams, J. M., Jeppesen, P. G. N., Sanger, F., and Barrell, B. G., Nature, 223, 1009 (1969).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Staynov, D. Z., Pinder, J. C., and Gratzer, W. B., Nature new Biol., 235, 108 (1972).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Robberson, D., Aloni, Y., Attardi, G., and Davidson, N., J. molec. Biol., 60, 473 (1971).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. McConkey, E. H., and Hopkins, J. W., J. molec. Biol., 39, 545 (1969).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Edmonds, M., Vaughan, jun., M. H., and Nakazato, H., Proc. nat. Acad. Sci. U.S.A., 68, 1336 (1971).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Darnell, J. E., Philipson, L., Wall, R., and Adesnik, M., Science, 174, 507 (1971).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Mansbridge, J. N., Crossley, J. A., Lanyon, W. G., and Williamson, R., Biochem. Soc. Transactions (536th Meeting, London), 36 (1973).

    Google Scholar 

  17. Yogo, Y., and Wimmer, E., Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A., 69, 1877 (1972).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Milstein, C., and Munro, A. J., Ann. Rev. Microbiol., 24, 335 (1970).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Gaskell, P., and Kabat, D., Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A., 68, 72 (1971).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Sanger, F., Donelson, J. E., Coulson, A. R., Kössel, H., and Fischer, D., Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A., 70, 1209 (1973).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Horibata, K., and Harris, A. W., Expl. Cell Res., 60, 61 (1970).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Medical Research Council, Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Hills Road, Cambridge

    G. G. BROWNLEE, E. M. CARTWRIGHT, N. J. COWAN, J. M. JARVIS & C. MILSTEIN

Authors
  1. G. G. BROWNLEE
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. E. M. CARTWRIGHT
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. N. J. COWAN
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. J. M. JARVIS
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. C. MILSTEIN
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

BROWNLEE, G., CARTWRIGHT, E., COWAN, N. et al. Purification and Sequence of Messenger RNA for Immunoglobulin Light Chains. Nature New Biology 244, 236–240 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1038/newbio244236a0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/newbio244236a0

This article is cited by

Search

Advanced search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing