Cutting edge: the G-U mismatch glycosylase methyl-CpG binding domain 4 is dispensable for somatic hypermutation and class switch recombination

J Immunol. 2003 Feb 15;170(4):1620-4. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.170.4.1620.

Abstract

Affinity maturation of the humoral response is accomplished by somatic hypermutation and class switch recombination (CSR) of Ig genes. Activation-induced cytidine deaminase likely initiates these processes by deamination of cytidines in the V and switch regions of Ig genes. This activity is expected to produce G-U mismatches that can be substrates for MutS homolog 2/MutS homolog 6 heterodimers and for uracil DNA glycosylase. However, G-T and G-U mismatches are also substrates of the methyl-CpG binding domain 4 (Mbd4) glycosylase. To determine whether Mbd4 functions downstream of activation-induced cytidine deaminase activity, we examined somatic hypermutation and CSR in Mbd4(-/-) mice. In this study, we report that CSR, as analyzed by an in vitro switch assay and by in vivo immunizations, is unaffected in Mbd4(-/-) mice. In addition, the hypermutated JH2 to JH4 region in Peyer's patch B cells showed no effects as a result of Mbd4 deficiency. These data indicate that the Mbd4 glycosylase does not significantly contribute to mechanisms of Ab diversification.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibody Diversity / genetics
  • Base Pair Mismatch* / immunology
  • Binding Sites, Antibody* / genetics
  • CpG Islands* / immunology
  • DNA Glycosylases
  • DNA Repair* / immunology
  • Endodeoxyribonucleases / deficiency
  • Endodeoxyribonucleases / genetics
  • Endodeoxyribonucleases / physiology*
  • Female
  • Guanine
  • Immunoglobulin Class Switching / genetics*
  • Immunoglobulin G / biosynthesis
  • Immunoglobulin G / metabolism
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • N-Glycosyl Hydrolases / deficiency
  • N-Glycosyl Hydrolases / genetics
  • N-Glycosyl Hydrolases / physiology*
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary / genetics
  • Somatic Hypermutation, Immunoglobulin*
  • Uracil

Substances

  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Uracil
  • Guanine
  • Endodeoxyribonucleases
  • DNA Glycosylases
  • Mbd4 protein, mouse
  • N-Glycosyl Hydrolases