Localization, analysis and evolution of transposed human immunoglobulin V κ genes

The localization of V κ gene regions to chromosome 2, on which the κ locus is located, and to other chromosomes is described. The V κ genes that have been transposed to other chromosomes are called orphons. The finding of two new V κ genes on chromosome 22 is reported. A V κ II gene of this region and two V κ I genes of the Chr 1 and the cos 118 regions were sequenced. The two V κ I orphon sequences and two others that had been determined previously were 97.5% identical, indicating that they may have evolved from a common ancestor by amplification. A model of the evolution of the human V κ orphons is discussed.