Heavy-chain class switch does not terminate somatic mutation.
We studied the H-chain class switch rearrangement in four groups of clonally related B cell hybridomas, to test the hypothesis that class switch terminates somatic mutation in a B cell. Using switch region-specific probes in Southern blot analysis individual mu-gamma switch rearrangement events can be distinguished. We show that clonally related IgG-producing hybridomas that differ by mutations often share a common switch rearrangement. This indicates that class switch in these cells did not terminate somatic mutation.
Shan
H
H
Institute for Cancer Research, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19111.
Shlomchik
M
M
Weigert
M
M
D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000276:immunology; D015139:Blotting, Southern; D002460:Cell Line; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D015321:Gene Rearrangement; D005809:Genes, Regulator; D005812:Genes, Switch; D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains / Q000235:genetics*; D007134:Immunoglobulin Switch Region / Q000235:genetics; D008099:Liver / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008817:Mice, Mutant Strains; D009154:Mutation; D015183:Restriction Mapping
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains; D004247:DNA