The inactivation of the XP-C gene does not affect somatic hypermutation or class switch recombination of immunoglobulin genes.
The mechanism of somatic hypermutation of immunoglobulin genes is not known, but appears to be linked to transcription and perhaps DNA repair. In order to determine if global DNA repair or the repair of the nontranscribed DNA strand is required for somatic mutation, we have analysed mice whose XP-C gene was inactivated by homologous recombination. Our study shows that hypermutation occurs in XP-C knockout mice with a normal frequency, suggesting that the XP-C gene product is not required for somatic hypermutation. Furthermore, we found that Ig gene switch recombination also is normal in these mice.
Shen
H M
HM
Department of Molecular Genetics and Cell Biology, University of Chicago, IL 60637, USA.
Cheo
D L
DL
Friedberg
E
E
Storb
U
U
D000818:Animals; D004260:DNA Repair; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005812:Genes, Switch; D007117:Immunization, Secondary; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000032:analysis; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis; D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000032:analysis; D007134:Immunoglobulin Switch Region / Q000235:genetics*; D007135:Immunoglobulin Variable Region / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D009154:Mutation; D017354:Point Mutation; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D007135:Immunoglobulin Variable Region; C501002:Xpc protein, mouse