title: Transcription and recombination factories: common features?
abstract: There is now substantial evidence that the eukaryotic nucleus consists of highly organized structures. Among such structures are transcription factories that consist of an ensemble of genes recruited by the RNA polymerase machinery. Here we suggest that antigen receptor variable regions are similarly organized. Specifically, we propose that the immunoglobulin heavy chain locus variable gene segments are anchored to the base of rosettes, wrapping around a cavity that contains the recombination machinery. We suggest that the folding of the chromatin fiber into rosettes underpins a crucial mechanism by which antigen receptor diversity is generated.
authors.affiliation: Division of Biological Sciences, 0377 Department of Molecular Biology, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093, United States.
authors.forename: Joseph S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Lucas
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bossen
authors.forename: Cornelis
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Murre
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D002843:Chromatin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007135:Immunoglobulin Variable Region / Q000235:genetics; D011946:Receptors, Antigen / Q000235:genetics*; D011995:Recombination, Genetic; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D002843:Chromatin; D007135:Immunoglobulin Variable Region; D011946:Receptors, Antigen