title: B cell-restricted human mb-1 gene: expression, function, and lineage infidelity.
abstract: The antigen receptor on B cells (B cell receptor [BCR]) consists of two noncovalently associated modules. Immunoglobulin genes created somatically during B cell development encode the antigen-specific component of the receptor. The Igalpha/beta heterodimer, encoded by the mb-1 and B29 genes, is necessary to escort the receptor complex to the plasma membrane. Following antigen engagement of the BCR, Igalpha/beta nucleates signal transduction and promotes endocytosis of bound antigen for intracellular degradation and presentation to helper T-cells. In this review, we outline the discovery of the mb-1 gene; summarize results from other laboratories on the function of Igalpha/beta in B cells; and conclude with our recent studies, which indicate that mb-1 is not a B-lineage-restricted gene as originally proposed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 35294, USA.
authors.forename: Bettie
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Herren
authors.forename: Peter D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Burrows
mesh_terms: D017951:Antigen Presentation; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D051925:CD79 Antigens; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D015322:Gene Rearrangement, B-Lymphocyte; D006801:Humans; D018448:Models, Immunological; D011947:Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D051925:CD79 Antigens; C497881:CD79A protein, human; C497883:CD79B protein, human; D011947:Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell