title: Efficient immune responses in mice lacking N-region diversity.
abstract: Mice with a null mutation in the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT) gene harbor immunoglobulin and T cell receptor repertoires essentially devoid of N-region diversity. Consequently, the CDR3 loops important for antigen recognition are shorter and considerably less diverse than those of wild-type controls. We find surprisingly normal immune responses in TdT0 mice, as regards both efficiency and specificity. This provokes a reconsideration of the assumption that N-region diversity is required for an effective T and B cell repertoire.
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D004253:DNA Nucleotidylexotransferase / Q000276:immunology*; D000939:Epitopes / Q000276:immunology; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D008217:Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008817:Mice, Mutant Strains; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009500:Neutralization Tests; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D014721:Vesicular stomatitis Indiana virus / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000939:Epitopes; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; D004253:DNA Nucleotidylexotransferase