An immunoglobulin heavy-chain gene is formed by at least two recombinational events.
The events of B-cell differentiation can be reconstructed in part through an analysis of the organisation of heavy-chain gene segments in differentiated B cells. A mouse immunoglobulin alpha heavy-chain gene is composed of at least three noncontiguous germ-line DNA segments--a VH gene segment, a JH gene segment associated with the Cmu gene segment, and the C alpha gene segment. These gene segments are joined together by two distinct types of DNA rearrangements--a V-J joining and a CH switch.
D000818:Animals; D000916:Antibody Diversity; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics; D005796:Genes; D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains / Q000235:genetics*; D007137:Immunoglobulin alpha-Chains / Q000235:genetics*; D007148:Immunoglobulin mu-Chains / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009194:Myeloma Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D010950:Plasma Cells / Q000276:immunology; D011995:Recombination, Genetic; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000502:physiology
D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains; D007137:Immunoglobulin alpha-Chains; D007148:Immunoglobulin mu-Chains; D009194:Myeloma Proteins; D004247:DNA