title: Probing the boundaries of the extended immunoglobulin family of recognition molecules: jumping domains, convergence and minigenes.
abstract: Structural studies on proteins have placed certain molecules with related functions in extended families with a possible common ancestor. The immunoglobulin family is one such grouping: among its putative members are Thy-1, C-reactive protein, β2-microglobulin, and MHC class-I and class-II products. Here John Marchalonis and his colleagues discuss new computer analyses of sequence data and serological studies which argue against the inclusion of Thy-1 and C-reactive protein in the immunoglobulin family. The sequence data suggest, however, that domains may be shared by recognition molecules with different evolutionary histories and that immunoglobulin and non-immunoglobulin molecules may cross-react serologically because they have 'minigenes' in common.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA.
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Marchalonis
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA.
authors.forename: G R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Vasta
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA.
authors.forename: G W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Warr
authors.affiliation: National Biomedical Research Foundation, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC 20007, USA.
authors.forename: W C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Barker