Allelic exclusion in the B lineage cells of the rabbit

Abstract

Allelic exclusion of the K polypeptide chain allotypes b4 and b5 of the rabbit exists for the immunoglobulins of almost all plasma cells and of most mature small B lymphocytes. However, both these alleles are expressed simultaneously in rare plasma cells and in an usually large fraction of the lymphoid cells of the bone marrow. Our experiments support the idea that such bone marrow B lineage cells do not always show allelic exclusion.