The kappa-like pre-B receptor: surplus biology or a missing link?
After the demonstration that surrogate JCkappa polypeptides could covalently bind mu heavy chain and upon the characterization of the Vkappa-like component of the kappa-like pre-B cell receptor, it became evident that germline transcription is not sterile. The present review discusses the concept of the alternative usage of kappa-like pre-B cell receptors and classical pre-B cell receptors utilizing the lambda-like surrogate light chain composed of lambda5 and VpreB. We propose that both kappa-like and lambda-like pre-B cell receptors work in concert in a fail-safe mechanism to promote light chain rearrangement, heavy chain allelic exclusion and B-lymphocyte maturation.
McKeller
Morgan R
MR
Department of Immunology, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, P.O. Box 301402, Unit # 902, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
Martinez-Valdez
Hector
H
D000818:Animals; D016175:B-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007147:Immunoglobulin Light Chains; D054444:Immunoglobulin Light Chains, Surrogate; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D054420:Pre-B Cell Receptors; D011947:Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell
D007147:Immunoglobulin Light Chains; D054444:Immunoglobulin Light Chains, Surrogate; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D054420:Pre-B Cell Receptors; D011947:Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell