title: Early human IgH gene assembly in Epstein-Barr virus-transformed fetal B cell lines. Preferential utilization of the most JH-proximal D segment (DQ52) and two unusual VH-related rearrangements.
abstract: We have analyzed the phenotypic characteristics and IgH gene rearrangements in a panel of EBV-transformed B lineage cell lines from human fetal liver and bone marrow. Some lines contained only populations of immature, Ig- Be cells, while others contained mixed populations of mature and immature B cells. The majority of identifiable IgH rearrangements involved joining of the most JH-proximal D segment, DQ52, to various JH segments, implying that DQ52 is a preferred target for initial DJH rearrangements. Three other rearrangements involving VH-related sequences were also characterized. Two involved VHDJH joining using VH3 genes, although one of these had a very unusual DJH structure. The third consisted of inverted 3' signal sequences and flanking regions of a VH4 gene appended to a JH. The mechanisms by which the later rearrangement could have occurred and its potential physiological significance are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York 10032.
authors.forename: K G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Nickerson
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Berman
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Glickman
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chess
authors.forename: F W
authors.initials: FW
authors.lastname: Alt
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000502:physiology*; D001483:Base Sequence; D015139:Blotting, Southern; D002460:Cell Line; D002472:Cell Transformation, Viral; D015326:Gene Rearrangement, B-Lymphocyte, Heavy Chain; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human; D006801:Humans; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data
chemical_list: D007136:Immunoglobulins