Immunoglobulin light chain

Schematic diagram of an typical antibody showing two Ig heavy chains (blue) linked by disulfide bonds to two Ig light chains (green). The constant (C) and variable (V) domains are shown.

An antibody molecule. The two heavy chains are colored red and blue and the two light chains green and yellow. See also:[1]

The immunoglobulin light chain is the small polypeptide subunit of an antibody (immunoglobulin).

A typical antibody is composed of two immunoglobulin (Ig) heavy chains and two Ig light chains.

In humans

There are two types of light chain in humans (as in other mammals),

• kappa (κ) chain, encoded by the immunoglobulin kappa locus (IGK@) on chromosome 2
• lambda (λ) chain, encoded by the immunoglobulin lambda locus (IGL@) on chromosome 22

Antibodies are produced by B lymphocytes, each expressing only one class of light chain. Once set, light chain class remains fixed for the life of the B lymphocyte. In a healthy individual, the total kappa to lambda ratio is roughly 2:1 in serum (measuring intact whole antibodies) or 1:1.5 if measuring free light chains, with a highly divergent ratio indicative of neoplasm.

The exact normal ratio of kappa to lambda ranges from 0.26 to 1.65. Both the kappa and the lambda chains can increase proportionately, maintaining a normal ratio. This is usually indicative of something other than a blood cell dyscrasia, such as kidney disease.

In other animals

The immunoglobulin light chain genes in tetrapods can be classified into three distinct groups: kappa (κ), lambda (λ), and sigma (σ). The divergence of the κ, λ, and σ isotypes preceded the radiation of tetrapods. The σ isotype was lost after the evolution of the amphibian lineage and before the emergence of the reptilian lineage.^[1]

Other types of light chains can be found in lower vertebrates, such as the Ig-Light-Iota chain of Chondrichthyes and Teleostei.^[2][3]

Camelids are unique among mammals as they have fully functional antibodies which have two heavy chains, but lack the light chains usually paired with each heavy chain.^[4] The functional role of this separate repertoire is unknown as yet.

Structure

Only one type of light chain is present in a typical antibody, thus the two light chains of an individual antibody are identical.

Each light chain is composed of two tandem immunoglobulin domains:

• one constant (C_L) domain
• one variable domain (V_L) that is important for binding antigen

The approximate length of a light chain protein is from 211 to 217 amino acids.^[2]

In pathology

Ig light chains produced in neoplastic plasma cells, e.g. in multiple myeloma, are called Bence Jones proteins.

See also

• Monoclonal antibodies

References

1. ^ Das S, Nikolaidis N, Klein J, Nei M (2008). "Evolutionary redefinition of immunoglobulin light chain isotypes in tetrapods using molecular markers". Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 105 (43): 16647–52. doi:10.1073/pnas.0808800105. PMC 2575474. PMID 18940927. http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?tool=pmcentrez&artid=2575474. 
2. ^ ^{a b} Janeway CA, Jr. et al. (2001). Immunobiology. (5th ed.). Garland Publishing. (electronic full text via NCBI Bookshelf) ISBN 0-8153-3642-X. 
3. ^ IMGT Index Antibodies (or Immunoglobulins).
4. ^ Hamers-Casterman C, Atarhouch T, Muyldermans S, Robinson G, Hamers C, Songa E, Bendahman N, Hamers R (1993). "Naturally occurring antibodies devoid of light chains". Nature 363 (6428): 446–8. doi:10.1038/363446a0. PMID 8502296. 

External links

• MeSH Immunoglobulin+Light+Chains
• Educational Resource for Immunoglobulin Light Chains

This protein-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.v · Categories: Immune system Protein stubs Wikimedia Foundation. 2010. Игры ⚽ Нужна курсовая? Pseudomonas rathonis Maghagha Look at other dictionaries: Immunoglobulin light chain — …   Википедия Light chain — A light chain is the small polypeptide subunit of a protein complex such as a motor protein (e.g. myosin, kinesin, or dynein) or an antibody (or immunoglobulin).More specifically, it can refer to: * Immunoglobulin light chain * Ferritin light… …   Wikipedia immunoglobulin light chain amyloidosis — AL a …   Medical dictionary light chain — n either of the two smaller of the four polypeptide chains that are subunits of antibodies called also L chain compare HEAVY CHAIN * * * any of the smaller polypeptide chains of antibody molecules, two identical light chains occurring (with two… …   Medical dictionary light chain — noun : either of the two smaller of the four polypeptide chains that are subunits of antibodies compare heavy chain herein * * * Immunol. either of an identical pair of polypeptides in the antibody molecule that lie parallel to the upper parts of …   Useful english dictionary light chain — Nonspecific term used of the smaller subunits of several multimeric proteins, for example immunoglobulin, myosin, dynein, clathrin. See also L chain …   Dictionary of molecular biology Immunoglobulin G — (IgG) is a monomeric immunoglobulin, built of two heavy chains γ and two light chains. Each IgG has two antigen binding sites. It is the most abundant immunoglobulin and is approximately equally distributed in blood and in tissue liquids,… …   Wikipedia Immunoglobulin D — (IgD) is an antibody isotype that makes up about 1% of proteins in the plasma membranes of immature B lymphocytes where it is usually coexpressed with another cell surface antibody called IgM. IgD is also produced in a secreted form that is found …   Wikipedia Immunoglobulin — A protein produced by plasma cells and lymphocytes. Immunoglobulins are an essential part of the body s immune system which attach to foreign substances, such as bacteria, and assist in destroying them. Abbreviated Ig. The classes of… …   Medical dictionary Immunoglobulin superfamily — The immunoglobulin superfamily (IgSF) is a large group of cell surface and soluble proteins that are involved in the recognition, binding, or adhesion processes of cells. Molecules are categorized as members of this superfamily based on shared… …   Wikipedia 18+ © Academic, 2000-2024 Contact us: Technical Support, Advertising Dictionaries export, created on PHP, Joomla, Drupal, WordPress, MODx. Mark and share Search through all dictionaries Translate… Search Internet Share the article and excerpts Direct link … Do a right-click on the link above and select “Copy Link”