Expression of T cell receptor gamma-chain in murine cytotoxic T cells: analysis of a highly transcribed nonrearranged gene cluster.
The murine T cell receptor gamma-gene family is organized in 4 gene clusters which encode variable, joining and constant gene segments. Because the function of the gamma-gene products is still unclear, there is great interest in functional rearrangements of these genes. We searched for new variable gamma-gene segments in the gamma 4-gene cluster. The mapping and sequencing of a supposed new variable segment of a functionally spliced transcript from a cDNA library of the cytotoxic T cell clone 3F9 was attempted. The results show that the supposed variable segment is a transcribed noncoding germline sequence 5' adjacent to the gamma 4-joining segment. With the gamma 4-constant sequence as a probe, strong signals could be shown in Northern analysis of the original T cell clone 3F9 and in other virus-specific T cell clones. Since all the T cell clones investigated did not show any rearrangement in the gamma 4-gene cluster, the observed high transcriptional activity in this region could be involved functionally or as an intermediate in T cell receptor rearrangement.
Schulz
M
M
Department of Experimental Pathology, University Hospital, Zürich, Switzerland.
Lienhard
G
G
Rupp
F
F
Zinkernagel
R M
RM
Hengartner
H
H
D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D015139:Blotting, Southern; D002999:Clone Cells; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004247:DNA; D015334:Gene Rearrangement, gamma-Chain T-Cell Antigen Receptor; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta; D012091:Repetitive Sequences, Nucleic Acid; D015183:Restriction Mapping; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000166:cytology*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta; D004247:DNA