title: The reverse transcriptase model of somatic hypermutation.
abstract: The evidence supporting the reverse transcriptase model of somatic hypermutation is critically reviewed. The model provides a coherent explanation for many apparently unrelated findings. We also show that the somatic hypermutation pattern in the human BCL-6 gene can be interpreted in terms of the reverse transcriptase model and the notion of feedback of somatically mutated sequences to the germline over evolutionary time.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, University of Wollongong, NSW, Australia. ted_steele@uow.edu.au
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Steele
authors.forename: R V
authors.initials: RV
authors.lastname: Blanden
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007135:Immunoglobulin Variable Region / Q000235:genetics*; D008957:Models, Genetic; D009154:Mutation; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D051560:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-6; D012194:RNA-Directed DNA Polymerase / Q000502:physiology*; D011995:Recombination, Genetic; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D007135:Immunoglobulin Variable Region; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D051560:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-6; D014157:Transcription Factors; D012194:RNA-Directed DNA Polymerase