title: Evolving adaptive immunity.
abstract: Generation of a diverse repertoire of antigen receptor specificities via DNA recombination underpins adaptive immunity. In this issue ofGenes&Development, Carmona and colleagues (pp. 909-917) provide novel insights into the origin and function of recombination-activating gene 1 (RAG1) and RAG2, the lymphocyte-specific components of the recombinase involved in the process.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Immunology, National Institute on Aging, Baltimore, Maryland 21224, USA.
authors.forename: Geoffrey A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Lovely
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Immunology, National Institute on Aging, Baltimore, Maryland 21224, USA.
authors.forename: Ranjan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sen
mesh_terms: D056704:Adaptive Immunity / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D045567:VDJ Recombinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; C064655:V(D)J recombination activating protein 2; C064658:RAG-1 protein; D045567:VDJ Recombinases
keywords: RAG; Transib; V(D)J recombination; evolution; transposition