title: Genomic instability due to V(D)J recombination-associated transposition.
abstract: The first step in assembling immunoglobulin and T-cell receptors by V(D)J recombination has similarities to transposon excision. The excised transposon-like element then integrates into DNA targets at random in vitro, but whether this activity significantly threatens the genomic integrity of its host has been unclear. Here, we recover examples where the putative transposon associated with V(D)J recombination integrated into the genome of a pre-B-cell line. Transposition accounted for a surprisingly high proportion (one-third) of integrations, while most of the remaining events had parallels to other aberrant V(D)J recombination pathways linked to oncogenic translocation. In total, transposition occurred approximately once every 50,000 V(D)J recombinations. Transposition may thus contribute significantly to genomic instability.
authors.affiliation: Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, USA.
authors.forename: Yeturu V R
authors.initials: YV
authors.lastname: Reddy
authors.forename: Eric J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Perkins
authors.forename: Dale A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Ramsden
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015322:Gene Rearrangement, B-Lymphocyte / Q000235:genetics*; D042822:Genomic Instability / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D011995:Recombination, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D019895:Transposases / Q000378:metabolism*; D045567:VDJ Recombinases / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D019895:Transposases; D045567:VDJ Recombinases