title: V(D)J recombination coding junction formation without DNA homology: processing of coding termini.
abstract: Coding junction formation in V(D)J recombination generates diversity in the antigen recognition structures of immunoglobulin and T-cell receptor molecules by combining processes of deletion of terminal coding sequences and addition of nucleotides prior to joining. We have examined the role of coding end DNA composition in junction formation with plasmid substrates containing defined homopolymers flanking the recombination signal sequence elements. We found that coding junctions formed efficiently with or without terminal DNA homology. The extent of junctional deletion was conserved independent of coding ends with increased, partial, or no DNA homology. Interestingly, G/C homopolymer coding ends showed reduced deletion regardless of DNA homology. Therefore, DNA homology cannot be the primary determinant that stabilizes coding end structures for processing and joining.
authors.affiliation: Division of Tumor Immunology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: N V
authors.initials: NV
authors.lastname: Boubnov
authors.forename: Z P
authors.initials: ZP
authors.lastname: Wills
authors.forename: D T
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Weaver
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002460:Cell Line; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics*; D004330:Drosophila / Q000235:genetics; D015870:Gene Expression; D015321:Gene Rearrangement; D005803:Genes, Immunoglobulin; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007133:Immunoglobulin Joining Region / Q000235:genetics*; D007135:Immunoglobulin Variable Region / Q000235:genetics*; D016393:Lymphoma, B-Cell; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009838:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000235:genetics*; D011995:Recombination, Genetic; D015183:Restriction Mapping; D017384:Sequence Deletion; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins; D007133:Immunoglobulin Joining Region; D007135:Immunoglobulin Variable Region; D009838:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; D004247:DNA