Abstract
Antigen receptors on most T-cells are heterodimeric glycoproteins, comprised of an alpha chain and a beta chain. These chains are encoded by discontiguous variable (V), diversity (D) and joining (J) gene segments that rearrange to produce a contiguous and functional alpha or beta chain gene. To investigate the size and diversity of the germline repertoire of alpha-chain gene segments, we have characterized and sequenced 20 alpha chain cDNAs. Among these cDNA clones, we have found 4 J alpha and 4 V alpha sequences that have not yet been described. The relationship of these "new" gene segments to those already characterized is discussed.
Publication types
-
Comparative Study
-
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
-
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
MeSH terms
-
Amino Acid Sequence
-
Animals
-
Antibody Diversity
-
Base Sequence
-
Gene Rearrangement, alpha-Chain T-Cell Antigen Receptor
-
Immunoglobulin Joining Region / genetics*
-
Immunoglobulin Joining Region / isolation & purification
-
Immunoglobulin Variable Region / genetics*
-
Immunoglobulin Variable Region / isolation & purification
-
Mice
-
Mice, Inbred BALB C
-
Mice, Inbred C57BL
-
Molecular Sequence Data
-
Multigene Family
-
Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / genetics*
-
Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid
Substances
-
Immunoglobulin Joining Region
-
Immunoglobulin Variable Region
-
Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell