Organization, structure, and assembly of immunoglobulin heavy chain diversity DNA segments - PubMed (original) (raw)

Organization, structure, and assembly of immunoglobulin heavy chain diversity DNA segments

Y Kurosawa et al. J Exp Med. 1982.

Abstract

We have identified, cloned, and sequenced eight different DNA segments encoding the diversity (D) regions of mouse immunoglobulin heavy-chain genes. Like the two D segments previously characterized (16, 17), all eight D segments are flanked by characteristic heptamers and nonamers separated by 12-bp spacers. These 10 D segments, and several more D segments identified but not yet sequenced, can be classified into three families based on the extent of sequence homology. The SP2 family consists of nine highly homologous D segments that are all 17-bp long and clustered in a chromosomal region of approximately 60 kb. The FL16 family consists of up to four D segments, two of which were mapped in the 5' end region of the SP2-D cluster. The two FL16D segments are 23 and 17 bp long. The third, the Q52 family, is a single-member family of the 10-bp-long DQ52, located 700 bp 5' to the JH cluster. We argue that the D-region sequences of the majority of heavy chain genes arise from these germline D segments by various somatic mechanisms, including joining of multiple D segments. We present a specific model of D-D joining that does not violate the 12/23-bp spacer rule.

PubMed Disclaimer

Similar articles

Cited by

References

    1. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1965 Sep;54(3):864-9 - PubMed
    1. Nature. 1970 Dec 12;228(5276):1045-7 - PubMed
    1. J Mol Biol. 1975 Nov 5;98(3):503-17 - PubMed
    1. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1976 Jan;73(1):203-7 - PubMed
    1. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1976 Oct;73(10):3628-32 - PubMed

Publication types

MeSH terms

Substances

LinkOut - more resources