title: Extensive diversity of transcribed TCR-beta in phylogenetically primitive vertebrate.
abstract: The genetic complexity of the expressed TCR Vbeta repertoire in Heterodontus francisci, the horned shark, a member of the most phylogenetically primitive vertebrate class in which TCR genes have been identified, is addressed. The sequences of 55 spleen cDNA clones encoding TCR-beta genes are compared, and 7 diverse Vbeta families are defined by overall sequence identity and clustering based on phylogenetic distance analyses. At least 18 putative Jbeta sequence types, as well as a consensus diversity (D) element that resembles most closely mammalian TCR Dbeta, can he recognized. Extensive sequence diversity, as well as characteristic TCR-beta length variation in CDR3, is evident. Unlike Ig genes in this species, TCR-beta genes exhibit considerable V family multiplicity and appear to utilize combinatorial mechanisms in the generation of immunologic diversity. in this sense, the TCR-beta genes in this cartilaginous fish and humans are more similar than are the genes encoding Ab proteins in these species.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of South Florida, Tampa 33612, USA.
authors.forename: N A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Hawke
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Rast
authors.forename: G W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Litman
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000235:genetics; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D014644:Genetic Variation; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / Q000235:genetics*; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid; D012754:Sharks / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D018076:DNA, Complementary; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta