Biomaterial Database

Extent to which homology can constrain coding exon junctional diversity in V(D)J recombination. 1993

R M Gerstein, and M R Lieber

Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, California 94305-5324.

Among site-directed DNA recombination systems, V(D)J recombination is noteworthy in that identical reactants yield different recombination products at the junction of joined segments. This variation is the basis for diversity at the base of antigen receptor binding pockets and corresponds to V-(D)-J DNA junctions. An abundance of certain junctions has been noted. It has been proposed that these junctions are favoured because they occur where short regions of homology in participating coding ends might align preferentially. Here we use a system that is entirely free from cellular selection to show that the diversity of coding joints can be severely restricted when the coding ends participating in the reaction have short regions of homology. This constraint on diversity is diminished but not eliminated by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase, a mechanistic feature that has implications for the establishment of the immune repertoire.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007133	Immunoglobulin Joining Region	A segment of the immunoglobulin heavy chains, encoded by the IMMUNOGLOBULIN HEAVY CHAIN GENES in the J segment where, during the maturation of B-LYMPHOCYTES; the gene segment for the variable region upstream is joined to a constant region gene segment downstream. The exact position of joining of the two gene segments is variable and contributes to ANTIBODY DIVERSITY. It is distinguished from the IMMUNOGLOBULIN J CHAINS; a separate polypeptide that serves as a linkage piece in polymeric IGA or IGM.	Joining Region, Ig,Immunoglobulin Joining Region Peptide Fragments,Ig Joining Region,Joining Region, Immunoglobulin
D007135	Immunoglobulin Variable Region	That region of the immunoglobulin molecule that varies in its amino acid sequence and composition, and comprises the binding site for a specific antigen. It is located at the N-terminus of the Fab fragment of the immunoglobulin. It includes hypervariable regions (COMPLEMENTARITY DETERMINING REGIONS) and framework regions.	Variable Region, Ig,Variable Region, Immunoglobulin,Framework Region, Immunoglobulin,Fv Antibody Fragments,Fv Fragments,Ig Framework Region,Ig Variable Region,Immunoglobulin Framework Region,Immunoglobulin Fv Fragments,Immunoglobulin V,Antibody Fragment, Fv,Antibody Fragments, Fv,Fragment, Fv,Fragment, Fv Antibody,Fragment, Immunoglobulin Fv,Fragments, Fv,Fragments, Fv Antibody,Fragments, Immunoglobulin Fv,Framework Region, Ig,Framework Regions, Ig,Framework Regions, Immunoglobulin,Fv Antibody Fragment,Fv Fragment,Fv Fragment, Immunoglobulin,Fv Fragments, Immunoglobulin,Ig Framework Regions,Ig Variable Regions,Immunoglobulin Framework Regions,Immunoglobulin Fv Fragment,Immunoglobulin Variable Regions,Regions, Immunoglobulin Variable,Variable Regions, Ig,Variable Regions, Immunoglobulin
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
D002461	Cell Line, Transformed	Eukaryotic cell line obtained in a quiescent or stationary phase which undergoes conversion to a state of unregulated growth in culture, resembling an in vitro tumor. It occurs spontaneously or through interaction with viruses, oncogenes, radiation, or drugs/chemicals.	Transformed Cell Line,Cell Lines, Transformed,Transformed Cell Lines
D004247	DNA	A deoxyribonucleotide polymer that is the primary genetic material of all cells. Eukaryotic and prokaryotic organisms normally contain DNA in a double-stranded state, yet several important biological processes transiently involve single-stranded regions. DNA, which consists of a polysugar-phosphate backbone possessing projections of purines (adenine and guanine) and pyrimidines (thymine and cytosine), forms a double helix that is held together by hydrogen bonds between these purines and pyrimidines (adenine to thymine and guanine to cytosine).	DNA, Double-Stranded,Deoxyribonucleic Acid,ds-DNA,DNA, Double Stranded,Double-Stranded DNA,ds DNA
D004253	DNA Nucleotidylexotransferase	A non-template-directed DNA polymerase normally found in vertebrate thymus and bone marrow. It catalyzes the elongation of oligo- or polydeoxynucleotide chains and is widely used as a tool in the differential diagnosis of acute leukemias in man. EC 2.7.7.31.	Terminal Addition Enzyme,Terminal Deoxyribonucleotidyltransferase,Deoxynucleotidyl Transferase,Deoxynucleotidyltransferase,Desoxynucleotidyl Transferase,Desoxynucleotidyltransferase,Tdt Antigen,Terminal Deoxynucleotidyl Transferase,Terminal Deoxyribonucleotidyl Transferase,Addition Enzyme, Terminal,Antigen, Tdt,Deoxynucleotidyl Transferase, Terminal,Deoxyribonucleotidyl Transferase, Terminal,Deoxyribonucleotidyltransferase, Terminal,Enzyme, Terminal Addition,Nucleotidylexotransferase, DNA,Transferase, Deoxynucleotidyl,Transferase, Desoxynucleotidyl,Transferase, Terminal Deoxynucleotidyl,Transferase, Terminal Deoxyribonucleotidyl
D006224	Cricetinae	A subfamily in the family MURIDAE, comprising the hamsters. Four of the more common genera are Cricetus, CRICETULUS; MESOCRICETUS; and PHODOPUS.	Cricetus,Hamsters,Hamster
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
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