IMMUNOGLOBULIN M: A POLYMERIC
MOLECULE
Serum IgM is basically constituted by five
subunits (monomeric subunits, IgMs), each of which is constituted by two light
chains ( k or l ) and two heavy chains (μ). The heavy chains are larger than those of IgG by about 20,000
daltons, corresponding to an extra do-main on the constant region (Cμ4). A third polypeptide chain, the J chain, can be revealed by
adequate methodology in IgM molecules. This is a small polypeptide chain of
15,000 daltons, also found in polymeric IgA molecules. One single J chain is
found in any poly-meric IgM or IgA molecule, irrespective of how many monomeric
subunits are involved in the polymerization. It has been postulated that this chain
plays some role in the polymer-ization process.
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