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Recombination between immunoglobulin variable region gene segments is enhanced by transcription

Nature volume 324, pages 585–589 (1986)Cite this article

Abstract

Immunoglobulin (Ig) variable (V) region genes are assembled in precursor B (pre-B) lymphocytes from multiple germline segments. The heavy-chain V- region gene is composed of variable (VH), diversity (D) and joining (JH) segments; kappa (κ) and lambda (λ) light-chain V-region genes have analogous VL, and JL segments. Assembly of Ig V-gene segments, as well as those of the highly related T-cell receptor, is regulated at several levels and shows both stage and tissue specificity; for example Ig heavy-chain V-gene assembly precedes that of Ig light chains during B-cell differentiation1. Joining of all classes of V-gene segments involves conserved recognition sequences that are probably targets for a common recombinase2. Evidence has been presented suggesting that rearrangement of specific classes of segments is regulated by modulation of their accessibility to the recombinase3. To elucidate mechanisms which control V-region gene assembly, we have investigated the effect of flanking gene expression on the frequency at which introduced V-gene segments are assembled in pre-B cell lines. Our findings suggest that transcription may play a direct role in the regulation of immunoglobulin V-gene assembly.

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Author notes

  1. Mark W. Moore and Erik Selsing: Rosensteil Basic Medical Sciences Research Center and Department of Biology, Brandeis University, Waltham, Massachusetts 02254, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Institute for Cancer Research, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, 630 W. 168th Street, New York, New York, 10032, USA

    T. Keith Blackwell, Mark W. Moore, George D. Yancopoulos, Heikyung Suh, Stuart Lutzker, Erik Selsing & Frederick W. Alt

Authors
  1. T. Keith Blackwell
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  2. Mark W. Moore
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  3. George D. Yancopoulos
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  4. Heikyung Suh
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  5. Stuart Lutzker
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  6. Erik Selsing
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  7. Frederick W. Alt
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Blackwell, T., Moore, M., Yancopoulos, G. et al. Recombination between immunoglobulin variable region gene segments is enhanced by transcription. Nature 324, 585–589 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1038/324585a0

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