Matrix illustrating the genetic composition and epitope specificity of anti-Rh(D) antibodies. The horizontal axis represents the unique γ1 heavy chains and the vertical axis represents the unique λ and κ light chains (based on amino acid sequence). A shaded pattern at the intersection of a heavy chain/light chain pair indicates the Rh(D) epitope specificity observed for that Fab/phage antibody. A few clones gave mixed patterns of reactivity, as shown (see text). The order of heavy chains (left to right) and light chains (top to bottom) was determined by the multiple alignment of amino acid sequences as in Figs 2, 4, and 5. Note that heavy chains D1, D15, D16, and D17, although differing in nucleotide sequence, have the identical amino acid sequences and thus comprise a single column. Similarly, heavy chains C5 and C8 and λ light chains K1 and K2 encode the same proteins. The pairings of these 28 heavy and 41 light chain nucleotide gene segments, which produced 53 unique Fab transcripts, encoded 43 different Fab proteins, as indicated in the matrix.
