Multiple Differences between the Nucleic Acid Sequences of the IgG2aa and IgG2ab Alleles of the Mouse

To compare the structure of IgG2a alleles we have determined the complete DNA sequence of the constant region, coding sequence, and 3' untranslated region of a cDNA clone, pAB gamma 2a-1, which was derived from the C57BL/6 mouse strain (b allotype). This sequence was compared with the corresponding IgG2a DNA sequence of BALB/c origin (a allotype). The DNA sequences showed 10% differences, and the deduced protein sequences differed by about 15%. These differences were not evenly distributed: most differences were in the hinge region, the CH3 domain and the 3' untranslated region. It is evident that many alterations in the IgG2a alleles have occurred since the a and b haplotypes were separated--some of these changes were point mutations but some appear to have resulted from gene conversion of the IgG2ab allele by the IgG2bb allele.