title: Deletion of the RAG2 C terminus leads to impaired lymphoid development in mice.
abstract: The recombination-activating gene (RAG)1 and RAG2 proteins comprise the lymphocyte-specific components of the V(D)J recombinase and are required for the assembly of antigen-receptor variable-region genes. A mutant truncated RAG2 protein ("core" RAG2) lacking the C-terminal 144 amino acids, together with core RAG1, is able to mediate the basic biochemical steps required for V(D)J recombination in vitro and in transfected cell lines. Here we examine the effect of replacing the endogenous RAG2 locus in mice with core RAG2. These mice generate substantial numbers of B and T cells, demonstrating that the core RAG2 protein retains significant in vivo function. However, core RAG2 mice display a reduction in the total number of B and T cells, reflecting impaired lymphocyte development at the progenitor stage associated with reduced chromosomal V(D)J recombination. We discuss potential roles of the RAG2 C terminus in mediating rearrangement of endogenous antigen-receptor loci.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
authors.forename: Yoshiko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Akamatsu
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Monroe
authors.forename: Darryll D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Dudley
authors.forename: Sheryl K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Elkin
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gartner
authors.forename: Sadiqur R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Talukder
authors.forename: Yousuke
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Takahama
authors.forename: Frederick W
authors.initials: FW
authors.lastname: Alt
authors.forename: Craig H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Bassing
authors.forename: Marjorie A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Oettinger
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology; D015139:Blotting, Southern; D002469:Cell Separation; D004254:DNA Nucleotidyltransferases / Q000378:metabolism; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D017353:Gene Deletion; D015321:Gene Rearrangement; D006825:Hybridomas; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000378:metabolism; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D045567:VDJ Recombinases
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D007136:Immunoglobulins; C499308:Rag2 protein, mouse; C064655:V(D)J recombination activating protein 2; D004254:DNA Nucleotidyltransferases; D045567:VDJ Recombinases