title: Organization of the T-cell antigen-receptor beta-chain locus in mice.
abstract: We used pulsed-field gel electrophoresis to determine the organization of the beta-chain gene of the T-cell receptor for antigen in normal and mutant inbred strains of mice. In normal mice, the variable (V)- and constant (C)- region elements of this locus span 700-800 kilobases of chromosomal DNA. All but one of the V beta gene segments analyzed lie 5' of the J beta C beta locus (J beta represents the joining region), with the closest being 280-360 kilobases away. The mutant mouse strain SJL has an internal V beta-region gene deletion that compacts the V beta region by 100-200 kilobases. Taken together with other data, these results indicate that the beta-chain locus can use either a looping-out/deletion or an inversion mechanism to appose V beta to DJ beta gene segments (D is the diversity region) and can accomplish the former (at least) over very large distances.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002872:Chromosome Deletion; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D005796:Genes; D008040:Genetic Linkage; D008099:Liver / Q000276:immunology; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008817:Mice, Mutant Strains; D009154:Mutation; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell