Initiation of Protein Synthesis at an Unusual Position in an Immunoglobulin Gene?

Abstract

The amino acid sequence of urinary beta(2)-microglobulin has been partially determined and found to be related to the constant region of IgG immunoglobulin heavy chain. beta(2)-Microglobulin is present in normal individuals. Its gene may have evolved from an immunoglobulin gene by the use of an unusually located start signal for initiating synthesis of the polypeptide.