V(D)J recombinase activity in a subset of germinal center B lymphocytes

Shuhua Han; Stacey R. Dillon; Biao Zheng; Michiko Shimoda; Mark S. Schlissel; Garnett Kelsoe

doi:10.1126/science.278.5336.301

V(D)J recombinase activity in a subset of germinal center B lymphocytes

Shuhua Han, Stacey R. Dillon, Biao Zheng, Michiko Shimoda, Mark S. Schlissel, Garnett Kelsoe

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

250 Scopus citations

Abstract

Reexpression of the V(D)J recombinase-activating genes RAG1 and RAG2 in germinal center B cells creates the potential for immunoglobulin gene rearrangement and the generation of new antigen receptor specificities. Intermediate products of V(D)J recombination are abundant in a subset of germinal center B Cells, demonstrating that the K immunoglobulin light-chain locus becomes a substrate for renewed V(D)J recombinase activity. This recombinationally active cell compartment contains many heavy-chain VDJ rearrangements that encode low-affinity or nonfunctional antibody. In germinal centers, secondary V(D)J recombination may be induced by diminished binding to antigen ligands, thereby limiting abrupt changes in receptor specificity to B cells that are usually eliminated from the germinal center reaction. This restriction preserves efficient antigen-driven selection in germinal centers while allowing for saltations in the somatic evolution of B cells.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	301-305
Number of pages	5
Journal	Science
Volume	278
Issue number	5336
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1126/science.278.5336.301
State	Published - Oct 10 1997
Externally published	Yes

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title = "V(D)J recombinase activity in a subset of germinal center B lymphocytes",

abstract = "Reexpression of the V(D)J recombinase-activating genes RAG1 and RAG2 in germinal center B cells creates the potential for immunoglobulin gene rearrangement and the generation of new antigen receptor specificities. Intermediate products of V(D)J recombination are abundant in a subset of germinal center B Cells, demonstrating that the K immunoglobulin light-chain locus becomes a substrate for renewed V(D)J recombinase activity. This recombinationally active cell compartment contains many heavy-chain VDJ rearrangements that encode low-affinity or nonfunctional antibody. In germinal centers, secondary V(D)J recombination may be induced by diminished binding to antigen ligands, thereby limiting abrupt changes in receptor specificity to B cells that are usually eliminated from the germinal center reaction. This restriction preserves efficient antigen-driven selection in germinal centers while allowing for saltations in the somatic evolution of B cells.",

author = "Shuhua Han and Dillon, {Stacey R.} and Biao Zheng and Michiko Shimoda and Schlissel, {Mark S.} and Garnett Kelsoe",

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AU - Han, Shuhua

AU - Dillon, Stacey R.

AU - Zheng, Biao

AU - Shimoda, Michiko

AU - Schlissel, Mark S.

AU - Kelsoe, Garnett

PY - 1997/10/10

Y1 - 1997/10/10

N2 - Reexpression of the V(D)J recombinase-activating genes RAG1 and RAG2 in germinal center B cells creates the potential for immunoglobulin gene rearrangement and the generation of new antigen receptor specificities. Intermediate products of V(D)J recombination are abundant in a subset of germinal center B Cells, demonstrating that the K immunoglobulin light-chain locus becomes a substrate for renewed V(D)J recombinase activity. This recombinationally active cell compartment contains many heavy-chain VDJ rearrangements that encode low-affinity or nonfunctional antibody. In germinal centers, secondary V(D)J recombination may be induced by diminished binding to antigen ligands, thereby limiting abrupt changes in receptor specificity to B cells that are usually eliminated from the germinal center reaction. This restriction preserves efficient antigen-driven selection in germinal centers while allowing for saltations in the somatic evolution of B cells.

AB - Reexpression of the V(D)J recombinase-activating genes RAG1 and RAG2 in germinal center B cells creates the potential for immunoglobulin gene rearrangement and the generation of new antigen receptor specificities. Intermediate products of V(D)J recombination are abundant in a subset of germinal center B Cells, demonstrating that the K immunoglobulin light-chain locus becomes a substrate for renewed V(D)J recombinase activity. This recombinationally active cell compartment contains many heavy-chain VDJ rearrangements that encode low-affinity or nonfunctional antibody. In germinal centers, secondary V(D)J recombination may be induced by diminished binding to antigen ligands, thereby limiting abrupt changes in receptor specificity to B cells that are usually eliminated from the germinal center reaction. This restriction preserves efficient antigen-driven selection in germinal centers while allowing for saltations in the somatic evolution of B cells.

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V(D)J recombinase activity in a subset of germinal center B lymphocytes

Abstract

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