and 1D6partement d'Immunologie de l'Institut Pasteur, 28. rue du Docteur Roux, 75724 Paris Cedex 15, France Communicated by M.FougereauHeavy and light chain variable regions from eight monoclonal Ab2 (anti-idiotypic) antibodies of the GAT antigen, a (Glu60 Ala30 Tyr10)n co-polymer, have been analyzed by direct mRNA sequencing. Three mAb2s were directed against private idiotopes and used various VH-D-JH and Vk-Jk combinations. By contrast, the five 'anti-public' mAb2 antibodies used a very restricted repertoire, including all gene segments. Interestingly, within their D regions, Glu-Glu-Tyr or Tyr-Tyr-Glu sequences were reminiscent of the original (GAT) antigen and may act as possible internal images. A striking observation was that two mAb2 antibodies shared the same V-D-J sequence although derived from separate fusions. As this D sequence, 33 nucleotides long, has not been described so far, it is suggested that it may be encoded by a new germline D gene, acting as a crucial regulatory element in a GAT germ-line idiotypic network. An alternative model that may lead to the construction of this D segment by 'odd' rearrangements from pre-existing already reported sequences is also presented.

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