Immunoglobulin variable regions in molecules exhibiting characteristics of innate and adaptive immune receptors.
The antigen combining sites of immunoglobulin (Ig) and T cell antigen receptors (TCRs), which are present in all jawed vertebrates, consist of a paired variable (V) domain heterodimer that exhibits varying degrees of germline- and extraordinarily high levels of somatically-derived variation. The near limitless variation in receptor specificity on the surface of individual lymphocytes is the basis for clonal selection in the adaptive immune response. A basic question arises as to whether or not there are other forms of immune-type receptors in vertebrates as well as in invertebrates that derive immune specificity through sequence differences in V domains. Our laboratory has discovered two such families of molecules, the novel immune-type receptors and the variable region-containing chitin-binding proteins. Both families of molecules encode V domains that share some characteristics of adaptive immune receptors but likely mediate innate functions.
Litman
Gary W
GW
Department of Pediatrics, University of South Florida College of Medicine, USF/ACH Children's Research Institute, 830 First Street South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701, USA. litmang@allkids.org
Cannon
John P
JP
Dishaw
Larry J
LJ
Haire
Robert N
RN
Eason
Donna D
DD
Yoder
Jeffrey A
JA
Prada
Jose Hernandez
JH
Ostrov
David A
DA
D000818:Animals; D002686:Chitin / Q000737:chemistry; D005399:Fishes / Q000276:immunology*; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D007135:Immunoglobulin Variable Region / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000145:classification; D010802:Phylogeny; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000145:classification
D007135:Immunoglobulin Variable Region; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic; D002686:Chitin