title: RAG2:GFP knockin mice reveal novel aspects of RAG2 expression in primary and peripheral lymphoid tissues.
abstract: We generated mice in which a functional RAG2:GFP fusion gene is knocked in to the endogenous RAG2 locus. In bone marrow and thymus, RAG2:GFP expression occurs in appropriate stages of developing B and T cells as well as in immature bone marrow IgM+ B cells. RAG2:GFP also is expressed in IgD+ B cells following cross-linking of IgM on immature IgM+ IgD+ B cells generated in vitro. RAG2:GFP expression is undetectable in most immature splenic B cells; however, in young RAG2:GFP mice, there are substantial numbers of splenic RAG2:GFP+ cells that mostly resemble pre-B cells. The latter population decreases in size with age but reappears following immunization of older RAG2:GFP mice. We discuss the implications of these findings for current models of receptor assembly and diversification.
authors.affiliation: Howard Hughes Medical Institute, The Children's Hospital, The Center for Blood Research and Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA.
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Monroe
authors.forename: K J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Seidl
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gaertner
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sekiguchi
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ferrini
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Davidson
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kelsoe
authors.forename: F W
authors.initials: FW
authors.lastname: Alt
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors / Q000032:analysis; D007114:Immunization; D007072:Immunoglobulin D / Q000032:analysis; D008164:Luminescent Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000502:physiology; D008221:Lymphoid Tissue / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D011947:Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell / Q000502:physiology; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000032:analysis; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D011995:Recombination, Genetic
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors; D007072:Immunoglobulin D; D008164:Luminescent Proteins; C499308:Rag2 protein, mouse; D011947:Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; C064655:V(D)J recombination activating protein 2; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins