Genetic polymorphism of IgG in the mink. IV. Identification and genetic control of L3 allotype of the light chains

A new allotype of the mink light chains, designated L3, was identified. This allotype is inherited as a Mendelian character at a frequency of 0.46 in the mink population. Data were obtained indicating that L3 is independent of the C gamma-heavy chain allotypes of mink immunoglobulins. The gene L3 is closely linked to a gene encoding L1, another light chain allotype. Alloantigens L1 and L3 are presumably markers of the light chains of two different subtypes. In contrast to L1, which occurs in many mammalian species, L3 is species-specific, i.e., it is a case of light chain polymorphism representative of the whole mink species.