Vκ gene repertoire and locus contraction are specified by critical DNase I hypersensitive sites within the Vκ-Jκ intervening region.

ABSTRACT: The processes of Ig gene locus contraction and looping during V(D)J-recombination are essential for creating a diverse Ab repertoire. However, no cis-acting sequence that plays a major role in specifying locus contraction has been uncovered within the Igκ gene locus. In this article, we demonstrate that a 650-bp sequence corresponding to DNase I hypersensitive sites HS1-2 within the mouse Igκ gene V-J intervening region binds CCCTC-binding factor and specifies locus contraction and long-range Vκ gene usage spanning 3.2 Mb in pre-B cells. We call this novel element Cer (for "contracting element for recombination"). Targeted deletion of Cer caused markedly increased proximal and greatly diminished upstream Vκ gene usage, higher allele usage, more splenic Igκ(+) B cells, and nonlineage-specif

SUBMITTER: Xiang Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3563863 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature