Immunoglobulin kappa variable 1-8
1_MRVPA 6_ QLLGL 11_ LLLWL 16_ PGARC 21_ AIRMT 26_ QSPSS 31_ FSAST 36_ GDRVT 41_ ITCRA 46_ SQGIS 51_ SYLAW 56_ YQQKP 61_ GKAPK 66_ LLIYA 71_ ASTLQ 76_ SGVPS 81_ RFSGS 86_ GSGTD 91_ FTLTI 96_ SCLQS 101_ EDFAT 106_YYCQQ
1: V region of the variable domain of immunoglobulin light chains that participates in the antigen recognition (PubMed:24600447). Immunoglobulins, also known as antibodies, are membrane-bound or secreted glycoproteins produced by B lymphocytes. In the recognition phase of humoral immunity, the membrane-bound immunoglobulins serve as receptors which, upon binding of a specific antigen, trigger the clonal expansion and differentiation of B lymphocytes into immunoglobulins-secreting plasma cells. Secreted immunoglobulins mediate the effector phase of humoral immunity, which results in the elimination of bound antigens (PubMed:20176268, PubMed:22158414). The antigen binding site is formed by the variable domain of one heavy chain, together with that of its associated light chain. Thus, each immunoglobulin has two antigen binding sites with remarkable affinity for a particular antigen. The variable domains are assembled by a process called V-(D)-J rearrangement and can then be subjected to somatic hypermutations which, after exposure to antigen and selection, allow affinity maturation for a particular antigen (PubMed:17576170, PubMed:20176268)