Project description:During V(D)J recombination RAG proteins introduce DNA double strand breaks (DSBs) adjacent to conserved recombination signal sequences (RSS) that contain either 12- or 23-nucleotide spacer regions. Coordinated cleavage following the “12/23” rule predicts that DSBs at variable (V) gene segments should not exceed the level of breakage at joining (J) segments, thereby ensuring that V regions do not engage in undesirable recombination events with one another. Here we report abundant RAG dependent DSBs at a multitude of V gene segments within the Ig locus independent of V-J rearrangement. We discover that a large fraction of V gene segments are flanked not only by a bone-fide 12 spacer, but also an overlapping, 23 spacer flipped RSS. These compatible pairs of RSS mediate recombination and deletion inside the V cluster even in the complete absence of J gene segments, and support a novel recombination center (RC) independent of the conventional J-centered RC. We propose a model that explains V gene segment usage by taking into account not only the probability of V-to-J rearrangement but also the surprisingly frequent, evolutionarily conserved intra-V cluster recombination events. These findings shed light on the diverse molecular strategies that shape the primary antigen receptor repertoires.
Project description:During V(D)J recombination RAG proteins introduce DNA double strand breaks (DSBs) adjacent to conserved recombination signal sequences (RSS) that contain either 12- or 23-nucleotide spacer regions. Coordinated cleavage following the “12/23” rule predicts that DSBs at variable (V) gene segments should not exceed the level of breakage at joining (J) segments, thereby ensuring that V regions do not engage in undesirable recombination events with one another. Here we report abundant RAG dependent DSBs at a multitude of V gene segments within the Ig locus independent of V-J rearrangement. We discover that a large fraction of V gene segments are flanked not only by a bone-fide 12 spacer, but also an overlapping, 23 spacer flipped RSS. These compatible pairs of RSS mediate recombination and deletion inside the V cluster even in the complete absence of J gene segments, and support a novel recombination center (RC) independent of the conventional J-centered RC. We propose a model that explains V gene segment usage by taking into account not only the probability of V-to-J rearrangement but also the surprisingly frequent, evolutionarily conserved intra-V cluster recombination events. These findings shed light on the diverse molecular strategies that shape the primary antigen receptor repertoires.
Project description:During V(D)J recombination RAG proteins introduce DNA double strand breaks (DSBs) adjacent to conserved recombination signal sequences (RSS) that contain either 12- or 23-nucleotide spacer regions. Coordinated cleavage following the “12/23” rule predicts that DSBs at variable (V) gene segments should not exceed the level of breakage at joining (J) segments, thereby ensuring that V regions do not engage in undesirable recombination events with one another. Here we report abundant RAG dependent DSBs at a multitude of V gene segments within the Ig locus independent of V-J rearrangement. We discover that a large fraction of V gene segments are flanked not only by a bone-fide 12 spacer, but also an overlapping, 23 spacer flipped RSS. These compatible pairs of RSS mediate recombination and deletion inside the V cluster even in the complete absence of J gene segments, and support a novel recombination center (RC) independent of the conventional J-centered RC. We propose a model that explains V gene segment usage by taking into account not only the probability of V-to-J rearrangement but also the surprisingly frequent, evolutionarily conserved intra-V cluster recombination events. These findings shed light on the diverse molecular strategies that shape the primary antigen receptor repertoires.
Project description:Dynamic genome folding is important for V(D)J recombination at the immunoglobulin kappa (Igk) locus, which recombines Jk and Vk gene segments across a 3.2 Mb region in both deletional and inversional orientations. Chromatin loop extrusion and diffusion are considered two key mechanisms underlying Igk folding, but how they coordinate remains unclear. Here we show that CTCF is a key regulator coupling loop extrusion and diffusion during Igk V-J rearrangement, promoting recombination in both orientations across long genomic distances. Mechanistically, the CTCF N-terminus promotes long-range loop extrusion that facilitates distal Vk usage by stabilizing cohesin against WAPL release, and also forms loop barriers enabling chromatin diffusion for inversional Vk joining. In CTCF N-terminal-deficient B cells, defects in inversional Vk joining are not restored by WAPL depletion but are instead largely rescued by a dCas9-blockade targeted to the Vk-Jk intergenic region, mimicking the CTCF barrier. Our findings thus highlight how CTCF coordinates distinct genome-folding mechanisms through its dual roles in cohesin stabilization and extrusion barrier formation to ensure the generation of a diverse Igk repertoire.
Project description:Dynamic genome folding is important for V(D)J recombination at the immunoglobulin kappa (Igk) locus, which recombines Jk and Vk gene segments across a 3.2 Mb region in both deletional and inversional orientations. Chromatin loop extrusion and diffusion are considered two key mechanisms underlying Igk folding, but how they coordinate remains unclear. Here we show that CTCF is a key regulator coupling loop extrusion and diffusion during Igk V-J rearrangement, promoting recombination in both orientations across long genomic distances. Mechanistically, the CTCF N-terminus promotes long-range loop extrusion that facilitates distal Vk usage by stabilizing cohesin against WAPL release, and also forms loop barriers enabling chromatin diffusion for inversional Vk joining. In CTCF N-terminal-deficient B cells, defects in inversional Vk joining are not restored by WAPL depletion but are instead largely rescued by a dCas9-blockade targeted to the Vk-Jk intergenic region, mimicking the CTCF barrier. Our findings thus highlight how CTCF coordinates distinct genome-folding mechanisms through its dual roles in cohesin stabilization and extrusion barrier formation to ensure the generation of a diverse Igk repertoire.