| Entrez gene ID | | 3507 |
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| Official gene symbol | | IGHM |
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| Full name | | immunoglobulin heavy constant mu |
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| Aliases | | ,DKFZp686I15196,DKFZp686I15212,FLJ00385,MGC104996,MGC52291,MU,VH, |
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| Gene summary | | Immunoglobulins (Ig) are the antigen recognition molecules of B cells. An Ig molecule is made up of 2 identical heavy chains and 2 identical light chains (see MIM 147200) joined by disulfide bonds so that each heavy chain is linked to a light chain and the 2 heavy chains are linked together. Each Ig heavy chain has an N-terminal variable (V) region containing the antigen-binding site and a C-terminal constant (C) region, encoded by an individual C region gene, that determines the isotype of the antibody and provides effector or signaling functions. The heavy chain V region is encoded by 1 each of 3 types of genes: V genes (see MIM 147070), joining (J) genes (see MIM 147010), and diversity (D) genes (see MIM 146910). The C region genes are clustered downstream of the V region genes within the heavy chain locus on chromosome 14. The IGHM gene encodes the C region of the mu heavy chain, which defines the IgM isotype. Naive B cells express the transmembrane forms of IgM and IgD (see IGHD; MIM 1471770) on their surface. During an antibody response, activated B cells can switch to the expression of individual downstream heavy chain C region genes by a process of somatic recombination known as isotype switching. In addition, secreted Ig forms that act as antibodies can be produced by alternative RNA processing of the heavy chain C region sequences. Although the membrane forms of all Ig isotypes are monomeric, secreted IgM forms pentamers, and occasionally hexamers, in plasma (summary by Janeway et al., 2005).[supplied by OMIM] |
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| Location | | Chromosome: 14 Locus: 14q32.33 |
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| Gene position | | 106322322 - 106318037 Map Viewer |
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| Gene orientation | | minus |
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| Gene size | | 4286 bp |
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| Gene sequence |
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| OMIM ID | | 147020 |
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