A common sequence motif near nonhomologous recombination breakpoints involving Ig sequences.
Analysis of nonhomologous recombination events at the Ig loci revealed that a four base sequence, 5'-CCAG-3', or its complement, 5'-CTGG-3', is present within seven nucleotides in 12 of the 13 examined recombination breakpoints. Statistical analysis of the data indicates that this occurrence has a probability of less than 10(-5) of occurring by chance. This sequence is infrequently found at nonhomologous recombination breakpoints in non-Ig sequences, suggesting that its contribution may be either Ig- or B cell-specific. Intriguingly, this tetranucleotide is also found to be associated with the breakpoints of VH gene replacement and isotype switching, suggesting that common pathways may be involved in all three B cell processes.
Department of Microbiology, Columbia University, College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY 10032.
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Chou
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Morrison
D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000502:physiology; D001483:Base Sequence; D017124:Conserved Sequence; D005803:Genes, Immunoglobulin; D006801:Humans; D007132:Immunoglobulin Isotypes / Q000235:genetics; D007135:Immunoglobulin Variable Region / Q000235:genetics; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011995:Recombination, Genetic
D007132:Immunoglobulin Isotypes; D007135:Immunoglobulin Variable Region