Organization of the human T cell receptor zeta/eta gene and its genetic linkage to the Fc gamma RII-Fc gamma RIII gene cluster.
The zeta-subunit is the most recently characterized stoichiometric human TCR component. In this study we describe the molecular organization of the human zeta-gene. The zeta transcript is generated as the spliced product of eight exons that are separated by distances of 0.7 kb to more than 8 kb. Ribonuclease protection studies revealed multiple transcription initiation sites distributed over a range of approximately 115 bases. A variable number tandem repeat restriction fragment polymorphism contained within the structural gene has allowed for the localization of zeta within the human genome. Additionally, a restriction fragment polymorphism within the Fc gamma RII-Fc gamma RIII gene cluster has allowed for its localization on the map of human chromosome 1q and for the establishment of its linkage to the zeta-gene locus. A region that is highly homologous on a nucleotide level with the eta-exon of the murine zeta-gene is localized to the 3' region of the human zeta-gene. Surprisingly, translation of this region into protein results in a structure that is markedly divergent from its murine counterpart. This finding has important implications regarding the potential role of eta in T cell function.
Jensen
J P
JP
Experimental Immunology Branch, DCBDC/National Cancer Institute National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892.
Hou
D
D
Ramsburg
M
M
Taylor
A
A
Dean
M
M
Weissman
A M
AM
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000944:Antigens, Differentiation, B-Lymphocyte / Q000235:genetics*; D001483:Base Sequence; D005091:Exons; D008040:Genetic Linkage; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D005810:Multigene Family; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000235:genetics*; D011961:Receptors, Fc / Q000235:genetics*; D017455:Receptors, IgE; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
D000944:Antigens, Differentiation, B-Lymphocyte; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; D011961:Receptors, Fc; D017455:Receptors, IgE; D007073:Immunoglobulin E