Major reorganization of immunoglobulin VH segmental elements during vertebrate evolution Journal Article


Authors: Hinds, K. R.; Litman, G. W.
Article Title: Major reorganization of immunoglobulin VH segmental elements during vertebrate evolution
Abstract: In mammals, the immunoglobulin heavy-chain variable region (VH) locus is organized in a linear fashion; individual VH, diversity (DH), joining (JH) and constant (CH) region segments are linked in separate regions1. During somatic development, coding segments flanked by characteristic short recombination signal sequences, separated by intervening sequence regions that may exceed 2,000 kilobases (kb), are recombined. Combinatorial joining of different segments as well as imprecision in this process contribute to the diversity of the primary antibody response; subsequent mutation further alters functionally rearranged genes. This basic somatic reorganization mechanism is shared by six major families of genes encoding antigen receptors2. Previously, we have shown that multiple germline genes and mammalian-like recombination signal sequences are associated with the VH gene family of Heterodontus francisci (horned shark), a primitive elasmobranch3. Studies presented here demonstrate that segmental reorganization involving mammalian-like DH and J H segments occurs in the lymphoid tissues of this species. In marked contrast to the mammalian system, we find multiple instances of close linkage (∼10 kb) between individual VH, DH, JH and CH segments. This unique organization may limit combinatorial joining and be a factor in the restricted antibody response of this lower vertebrate4,5. © 1986 Nature Publishing Group.
Keywords: nonhuman; protein conformation; animal cell; animal; mice; heredity; biological model; cell line; evolution; lymphatic system; immunoglobulin gene; immunoglobulin variable region; amino acid sequence; genetic engineering; nucleotide sequence; base sequence; radioisotope; fish; antibody formation; normal value; human; priority journal; support, u.s. gov't, p.h.s.; immunoglobulins, heavy-chain
Journal Title: Nature
Volume: 320
Issue: 6062
ISSN: 0028-0836
Publisher: Nature Publishing Group  
Date Published: 1986-04-10
Start Page: 546
End Page: 549
Language: English
DOI: 10.1038/320546a0
PUBMED: 3083268
PROVIDER: scopus
DOI/URL:
Notes: Article -- Export Date: 18 August 2021 -- Source: Scopus
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