Biomaterial Database

Analysis of class II MHC structure in thymic nurse cells. 1991

J E McCormack, and T Wade, and H Morales, and J Kappler, and P Marrack

Howard Hughes Medical Institute, National Jewish Center for Immunology and Respiratory Medicine, Denver, Colorado 80206.

During the course of thymocyte maturation, the processes of positive selection and tolerance induction are mediated by interactions between thymocyte T-cell receptors and MHC molecules on thymic stromal cells. The means by which these seemingly contrary processes can be mediated by interactions between the same molecules has long been a source of controversy. One idea which has been put forward is that the MHC molecules in different microenvironments of the thymus are not the same. We have tested this hypothesis by examining class II transcripts derived from thymic cortical epithelial cells known as thymic nurse cells, reasoning that alternative splicing of primary transcripts might give rise to a positively selecting MHC molecule. However, we found no evidence for alternative splicing of these transcripts. These results are presented and discussed with regard to implications for possible mechanisms of positive selection.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008807	Mice, Inbred BALB C	An inbred strain of mouse that is widely used in IMMUNOLOGY studies and cancer research.	BALB C Mice, Inbred,BALB C Mouse, Inbred,Inbred BALB C Mice,Inbred BALB C Mouse,Mice, BALB C,Mouse, BALB C,Mouse, Inbred BALB C,BALB C Mice,BALB C Mouse
D008969	Molecular Sequence Data	Descriptions of specific amino acid, carbohydrate, or nucleotide sequences which have appeared in the published literature and/or are deposited in and maintained by databanks such as GENBANK, European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), National Biomedical Research Foundation (NBRF), or other sequence repositories.	Sequence Data, Molecular,Molecular Sequencing Data,Data, Molecular Sequence,Data, Molecular Sequencing,Sequencing Data, Molecular
D011948	Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell	Molecules on the surface of T-lymphocytes that recognize and combine with antigens. The receptors are non-covalently associated with a complex of several polypeptides collectively called CD3 antigens (CD3 COMPLEX). Recognition of foreign antigen and the major histocompatibility complex is accomplished by a single heterodimeric antigen-receptor structure, composed of either alpha-beta (RECEPTORS, ANTIGEN, T-CELL, ALPHA-BETA) or gamma-delta (RECEPTORS, ANTIGEN, T-CELL, GAMMA-DELTA) chains.	Antigen Receptors, T-Cell,T-Cell Receptors,Receptors, T-Cell Antigen,T-Cell Antigen Receptor,T-Cell Receptor,Antigen Receptor, T-Cell,Antigen Receptors, T Cell,Receptor, T-Cell,Receptor, T-Cell Antigen,Receptors, T Cell Antigen,Receptors, T-Cell,T Cell Antigen Receptor,T Cell Receptor,T Cell Receptors,T-Cell Antigen Receptors
D000595	Amino Acid Sequence	The order of amino acids as they occur in a polypeptide chain. This is referred to as the primary structure of proteins. It is of fundamental importance in determining PROTEIN CONFORMATION.	Protein Structure, Primary,Amino Acid Sequences,Sequence, Amino Acid,Sequences, Amino Acid,Primary Protein Structure,Primary Protein Structures,Protein Structures, Primary,Structure, Primary Protein,Structures, Primary Protein
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D000949	Histocompatibility Antigens Class II	Large, transmembrane, non-covalently linked glycoproteins (alpha and beta). Both chains can be polymorphic although there is more structural variation in the beta chains. The class II antigens in humans are called HLA-D ANTIGENS and are coded by a gene on chromosome 6. In mice, two genes named IA and IE on chromosome 17 code for the H-2 antigens. The antigens are found on B-lymphocytes, macrophages, epidermal cells, and sperm and are thought to mediate the competence of and cellular cooperation in the immune response. The term IA antigens used to refer only to the proteins encoded by the IA genes in the mouse, but is now used as a generic term for any class II histocompatibility antigen.	Antigens, Immune Response,Class II Antigens,Class II Histocompatibility Antigen,Class II Major Histocompatibility Antigen,Ia Antigens,Ia-Like Antigen,Ia-Like Antigens,Immune Response Antigens,Immune-Associated Antigens,Immune-Response-Associated Antigens,MHC Class II Molecule,MHC II Peptide,Class II Antigen,Class II Histocompatibility Antigens,Class II MHC Proteins,Class II Major Histocompatibility Antigens,Class II Major Histocompatibility Molecules,I-A Antigen,I-A-Antigen,IA Antigen,MHC Class II Molecules,MHC II Peptides,MHC-II Molecules,Antigen, Class II,Antigen, I-A,Antigen, IA,Antigen, Ia-Like,Antigens, Class II,Antigens, Ia,Antigens, Ia-Like,Antigens, Immune-Associated,Antigens, Immune-Response-Associated,I A Antigen,II Peptide, MHC,Ia Like Antigen,Ia Like Antigens,Immune Associated Antigens,Immune Response Associated Antigens,MHC II Molecules,Molecules, MHC-II,Peptide, MHC II,Peptides, MHC II
D001483	Base Sequence	The sequence of PURINES and PYRIMIDINES in nucleic acids and polynucleotides. It is also called nucleotide sequence.	DNA Sequence,Nucleotide Sequence,RNA Sequence,DNA Sequences,Base Sequences,Nucleotide Sequences,RNA Sequences,Sequence, Base,Sequence, DNA,Sequence, Nucleotide,Sequence, RNA,Sequences, Base,Sequences, DNA,Sequences, Nucleotide,Sequences, RNA
D012326	RNA Splicing	The ultimate exclusion of nonsense sequences or intervening sequences (introns) before the final RNA transcript is sent to the cytoplasm.	RNA, Messenger, Splicing,Splicing, RNA,RNA Splicings,Splicings, RNA
D012333	RNA, Messenger	RNA sequences that serve as templates for protein synthesis. Bacterial mRNAs are generally primary transcripts in that they do not require post-transcriptional processing. Eukaryotic mRNA is synthesized in the nucleus and must be exported to the cytoplasm for translation. Most eukaryotic mRNAs have a sequence of polyadenylic acid at the 3' end, referred to as the poly(A) tail. The function of this tail is not known for certain, but it may play a role in the export of mature mRNA from the nucleus as well as in helping stabilize some mRNA molecules by retarding their degradation in the cytoplasm.	Messenger RNA,Messenger RNA, Polyadenylated,Poly(A) Tail,Poly(A)+ RNA,Poly(A)+ mRNA,RNA, Messenger, Polyadenylated,RNA, Polyadenylated,mRNA,mRNA, Non-Polyadenylated,mRNA, Polyadenylated,Non-Polyadenylated mRNA,Poly(A) RNA,Polyadenylated mRNA,Non Polyadenylated mRNA,Polyadenylated Messenger RNA,Polyadenylated RNA,RNA, Polyadenylated Messenger,mRNA, Non Polyadenylated
D013950	Thymus Gland	A single, unpaired primary lymphoid organ situated in the MEDIASTINUM, extending superiorly into the neck to the lower edge of the THYROID GLAND and inferiorly to the fourth costal cartilage. It is necessary for normal development of immunologic function early in life. By puberty, it begins to involute and much of the tissue is replaced by fat.	Thymus,Gland, Thymus,Glands, Thymus,Thymus Glands