The loci encoding immunoglobulins have a unique structure. composed of "gene segments" The heavy chain locus has multiple V(variable)segments,multiple D (diversity)segments,multiple J(joining)segments and multiple C (constant)segments. During maturation,one of each V,D and J segment is randomly "chosen" and used to encode the final antibody molecule. Germline configuration of the heavy chain locus(mice) (c)Heavy-chain DNA n=-134 LVH1 LVHn DH1 DH13 JH1 JH4 Cu C Cy1 C:2b C 2a 5□…■∥…0 55 34 21 15 kb kb kb kb kb kb kb Kuby Figure 5-3 ■■■■ Each gene segment may have its own intron-exon structure-e.g.the Cu gene segment... The loci encoding immunoglobulins have a unique structure. - composed of "gene segments" The heavy chain locus has multiple V (variable) segments, multiple D (diversity) segments, multiple J (joining) segments and multiple C (constant) segments. During maturation, one of each V, D and J segment is randomly “chosen” and used to encode the final antibody molecule. Germline configuration of the heavy chain locus (mice) Each gene segment may have its own intron-exon structure - e.g. the Cm gene segment… Kuby Figure 5-3