title: Excised V(D)J recombination byproducts threaten genomic integrity.
abstract: Signal joints were long considered to be inert byproducts of V(D)J recombination that protect the genome from illegitimate rearrangements. However, increasing evidence suggests that signal joints are not inert and could pose a threat to genomic stability. A recent study from Nadel and colleagues shows that episomal signal joints readily undergo trans recombination, resulting in their insertion into chromosomal DNA.
authors.affiliation: The Kimmel Center for Biology and Medicine of the Skirball Institute and Department of Pathology, New York University School of Medicine, USA.
authors.forename: Suzzette M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Arnal
authors.forename: David B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Roth
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015322:Gene Rearrangement, B-Lymphocyte / Q000235:genetics*; D016678:Genome / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*; D010957:Plasmids / Q000235:genetics; D011995:Recombination, Genetic / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D007136:Immunoglobulins