title: Chromosome choice for initiation of V-(D)-J recombination is not governed by genomic imprinting.
abstract: V-(D)-J recombination generates the antigen receptor diversity necessary for immune cell function, while allelic exclusion ensures that each cell expresses a single antigen receptor. V-(D)-J recombination of the Ig, Tcrb, Tcrg and Tcrd antigen receptor genes is ordered and sequential so that only one allele generates a productive rearrangement. The mechanism controlling sequential rearrangement of antigen receptor genes, in particular how only one allele is selected to initiate recombination while at least temporarily leaving the other intact, remains unresolved. Genomic imprinting, a widespread phenomenon wherein maternal or paternal allele inheritance determines allele activity, could represent a regulatory mechanism for controlling sequential V-(D)-J rearrangement. We used strain-specific single-nucleotide polymorphisms within antigen receptor genes to determine if maternal vs paternal inheritance could underlie chromosomal choice for the initiation of recombination. We found no parental chromosomal bias in the initiation of V-(D)-J recombination in T or B cells, eliminating genomic imprinting as a potential regulator for this tightly regulated process.
authors.affiliation: Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gebert
authors.affiliation: Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Lauren
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Correia
authors.affiliation: Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Zhenhu
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Howard T
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Petrie
authors.affiliation: Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Paul E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Love
authors.affiliation: Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Karl
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pfeifer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D033481:Chromosomes, Mammalian / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D018392:Genomic Imprinting; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D015183:Restriction Mapping; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D060152:V(D)J Recombination / Q000235:genetics*