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Structure and physical map of 64 variable segments in the 3′ 0.8–megabase region of the human immunoglobulin heavy–chain locus

Nature Genetics volume 3, pages 88–94 (1993)Cite this article

Abstract

We have constructed the physical map of the 0.8 megabase DNA fragment which contains the 3′ 64 variable region (V) gene segments of the human immunoglobulin heavy chain (H) locus. The organization of the VH locus showed several features that indicate dynamic reshuffling of this locus. The sequenced 64 VH segments include 31 pseudogenes, of which 24 are highly conserved except for a few point mutations. Comparison of the 64 germline VH sequences shows that each VH family has conserved sequences, suggesting that there might be some genetic or selection mechanisms involved in maintenance of each family. The total number of the human VH segments was estimated to be about 120, including at least 7 orphons.

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Author notes

  1. Takashi Imai

    Present address: Division of Biochemistry, Cancer Institute, Kami-Ikebukuro, Toshima, Tokyo, 107, Japan

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Molecular Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Kyoto University, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606, Japan

    Fumihiko Matsuda, Shigeo Taka-ishi & Tasuku Honjo

  2. Department of Medical Chemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Kyoto University, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606, Japan

    Euy Kyun Shin, Hitoshi Nagaoka, Ryusuke Matsumura, Makoto Haino, Yosho Fukita & Tasuku Honjo

  3. Gene Bank, Tsukuba Life Science Center, the Institute of Physical and Chemical Research (RIKEN), Koyadai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305, Japan

    Takashi Imai & Eiichi Soeda

  4. Department of Biotechnology, ICI Pharmaceuticals, Alderley Park, Macclesfield, Cheshire, SK10 4TG, UK

    John H. Riley & Rakesh Anand

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Matsuda, F., Kyun Shin, E., Nagaoka, H. et al. Structure and physical map of 64 variable segments in the 3′ 0.8–megabase region of the human immunoglobulin heavy–chain locus. Nat Genet 3, 88–94 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1038/ng0193-88

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