From lymphocytes to sharks: V(D)J recombinase moves to the germline.
The antigen-receptor genes of vertebrates are rearranged by a specialized somatic recombination mechanism in developing lymphocytes - and, unexpectedly, also in the germline of cartilaginous fishes. The recombination system that carries out these DNA rearrangements may thus be a significant evolutionary force, perhaps not limited to rearrangements at antigen-receptor loci.
Roth
D B
DB
Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Department of Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA. davidbr@bcm.tmc.edu
D000818:Animals; D004254:DNA Nucleotidyltransferases / Q000378:metabolism*; D014644:Genetic Variation / Q000235:genetics; D016678:Genome; D018095:Germ-Line Mutation / Q000235:genetics*; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000201:enzymology*; D011995:Recombination, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D012754:Sharks / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D012860:Skates, Fish / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D045567:VDJ Recombinases
D004254:DNA Nucleotidyltransferases; D045567:VDJ Recombinases