Immunoglobulin diversity: correlation of non-allelic antigenic markers with the basic sequences of the variable region of human lambda chains.

Three forms of the amino terminal half (variable region) of human pathological lambda light chains of immunolglobulins were identified antigenically. By study of all completely sequenced Bence Jones proteins hitherto analyzed and a greater number of proteins subjected to automated sequence determination as well as normal light chains three distinct isotypic basic sequences were identified. The basic sequences are shown to be associated with characteristic antigenic markers representing three V region genes encoding the variable half of lambda chains of immunoglobulins.