Tg(IGHMdeltaV)6Corc

The deltaVmu transgene construct was derived from a rearranged human mu immunoglobulin heavy-chain gene by joining the V-segment leader (L) exon directly to an 11-kb fragment containing the mu constant region (Cmu) exons, deleting the V(D)J exon. This transgene encodes both secreted and membrane bound Cmu protein. Transgene-derived mRNA is detected at high levels in spleen and thymus, but not in brain, liver or kidney of mice of this transgenic line. Human immunoglobulin mu (IGmu) heavy chains are detected by ELISA in the sera of these mice. Spleen cells can be identified by FCM analysis that express both the B cell lineage-specific marker, B220, and the truncated human IGmu chain on their surfaces. In this line, the human IGmu is also expressed by a population of B220- cells that lack the T cell-specific Thy-1 marker express, as well. (J:135417)