Kappachain immunoglobulin

The κ (Kappa) chain is one of the immunoglobulin light chain polypeptide isotypes [Male, D., Brostoff, J., Roth, D.B., & Roitt, I. 2006. Immunology. 7th ed., Canada: Elsevier Limited] . The other main type is the λ (Lamda) light chain. Both κ and λ chains are short chains [Ganong, W.F. 1999. Review of Medical Physiology, 19th ed., Connecticut: Appleton and Lange] . (compared to the heavy chains) and have a constant and variable region. In humans the κ chain is coded for by V, J and C genes on chromosome 2 [Male, D., Brostoff, J., Roth, D.B., & Roitt, I. 2006. Immunology. 7th ed., Canada: Elsevier Limited] . These genes undergo V(D)J recombination to generate a diverse repertoire of immunoglobulin (Ig) molecules.

Each immunoglobulin molecule is made up of four polypeptide chains - two identical light and two identical heavy chain chains [Ganong, W.F. 1999. Review of Medical Physiology, 19th ed., Connecticut: Appleton and Lange] [Male, D., Brostoff, J., Roth, D.B., & Roitt, I. 2006. Immunology. 7th ed., Canada: Elsevier Limited] . Immunoglobulin molecules are secreted by plasma cells and play an important role in the immune response [Boden, E. (Ed.) 2005. Black’s Student Veterinary Dictionary. 21st ed., London: A & C Black Publishers Ltd.] showing antibody activity and antigen specificity on the N terminal domains of each light and heavy chain variable region [Male, D., Brostoff, J., Roth, D.B., & Roitt, I. 2006. Immunology. 7th ed., Canada: Elsevier Limited] .

References

ee Also

* Immunoglobulin
* Antibody
* Immune system