# FUNCTIONAL DIFFERENTIATION IN B LYMPHOCYTES

> **NIH NIH R01** · OREGON HEALTH & SCIENCE UNIVERSITY · 1987 · $185,385

## Abstract

The long term objective of this proposal is to understand functional
differentiation in B lymphocytes.  The experimental model is the murine
response to phosphocholine (PC) a ubiquitous molecule found in the cell
walls of many microorganisms.  The specific goal of this project is to
understand the molecular basis of the antibody heterogeneity that occurs to
PC during the development of immunological memory.  Hybridomas that produce
anti-PC antibodies will be analyzed at the molecular level through
recombinant DNA technology and protein sequencing.  Preliminary data
indicate that IgG antibodies characteristic of the secondary immune
response (Group II) may utilize VH genes distinct from the VH1 gene
employed by the dominant T15 family of anti-PC antibodies.  In addition,
Group II antibodies can use different light chain genes from those of the
T15 family, in particular Vkappa1-3 and lambda1 and lambda2, as is evident
from a library of hybridomas that has been created for this study.  Group
II hybridomas using unique VH gene(s) as determined by restriction digest
analysis will serve as a source for molecular cloning of a VH coding
sequence for Group II.  Should this sequence prove unique, it will be used
to define the gene family involved.  When members of other characterized
gene families are identified as exemplified by the lambda system, mRNA
sequencing will be used to determine whether the antibodies in question
utilize the germline sequence or whether somatic mutation is required to
derive anti-PC combining sites; depending on the particular chain in
question, amino acid sequencing may also be employed.  Molecular
recombination experiments between heavy and light chains of selected
hybridomas will be employed in order to gain information regarding the role
of particular V regions or mutations on the formation of Group II-like
combining sites.  The ontogeny and precursor frequency of B cells
expressing the Group II phenotype during neonatal development will be
determined.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3125969
- **Project number:** 5R01AI014985-10
- **Recipient organization:** OREGON HEALTH & SCIENCE UNIVERSITY
- **SAM.gov UEI:** NPSNT86JKN51
- **Principal Investigator:** MARVIN B RITTENBERG
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1987
- **Award amount:** $185,385
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1978-04-01 → 1991-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3125969

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3125969, FUNCTIONAL DIFFERENTIATION IN B LYMPHOCYTES (5R01AI014985-10). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3125969. Licensed CC0.

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