Abstract
Each type of cell in the immune system performs critical functions to protect the body and maintain health. In order to fulfil these roles some immune cells rely on unique processes, including antigen receptor loci recombination, clonal expansion or the contortion of their nuclei. In turn, each of these processes relies on, or poses unique challenges to, a genome organized in three dimensions. Here, we explore the current understanding of the importance of 3D genome organization in the function and development of a healthy immune system.
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Acknowledgements
The authors thank S. Nutt, A. Johanson, N. Alpern and H. Batterham for constructive discussion. This work was supported by grants and fellowships from the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) of Australia (R.S.A.: #1049307 and #1100451; T.M.J.: #1124081; and C.R.K.: #1125436) and the Australian Research Council (R.S.A.: #130100541). This study was made possible through the Victorian State Government Operational Infrastructure Support and Australian Government NHMRC Independent Research Institute Infrastructure Support scheme.
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Glossary
- Recombination centre
-
A complex containing recombination activating gene 1 (RAG1) and RAG2 that binds to, digests and facilitates repair of antigen receptor loci DNA during recombination.
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Johanson, T.M., Chan, W.F., Keenan, C.R. et al. Genome organization in immune cells: unique challenges. Nat Rev Immunol 19, 448–456 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41577-019-0155-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41577-019-0155-2
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