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T Honjo

Publications and source records attributed to T Honjo.

At least 397 records · Page 22Linked to original sources

Rearrangements of immunoglobulin genes during differentiation and evolution.

Immunoglobulin genes are shown to undergo dynamic rearrangements during differentiation as well as evolution. We have demonstrated that a complete immunoglobulin heavy chain gene is formed by at least two types of DNA rearrangement during B cell differentiation. The first type of rearrangement is V-D-J recombination to complete a variable region sequence and the second type is S-S recombination to switch a constant region sequence. Both types of recombination are accompanied by deletion of the intervening DNA segment. Structure and organization of CH genes are elucidated by molecular cloning and nucleotide sequence determination. Organization of H chain genes is summarized as VH-(unknown distance)-JH-(6.5 kb)-C mu-(4.5 kb)-C delta-(unknown distance)-C gamma 3-(34 kb)-C gamma 1-(21 kb)-C gamma 2b-(15 kb)-C gamma 2a-(14.5 kb)-C epsilon-(12.5 kb)-C alpha. The S-S recombination takes place at the S region which is located at the 5' side of each CH gene. Nucleotide sequence of the S region comprises tandem repetition of closely related sequences. The S-S recombination seems to be mediated by short common sequences shared among S regions. A sister chromatid exchange model was proposed as a mechanism for S-S recombination. Comparison of nucleotide sequences of CH genes indicates that immunoglobulin genes have scrambled by intervening sequence-mediated domain transfer during their evolution.

Animals↗

Cloning of human immunoglobulin mu gene and comparison with mouse mu gene.

We have cloned a 12 kb DNA segment containing human mu gene and its flanking sequence from human fetal liver DNA library using mouse mu gene as a probe. Partial nucleotide sequence determination shows that the cloned DNA contains the sequence encoding human mu chain. This is the first constant region gene of the human heavy chain that is cloned. We have compared human and mouse mu genes by heteroduplex analysis and Southern blot hybridization. The results clearly show that not only the sequence encoding the CH4 domain but also the 5'-flanking (S mu) sequence is conserved between human and mouse mu genes, suggesting that the nucleotide sequence in the S mu region has an important biological function, presumably a recognition signal for the class switch recombinant as proposed previously.

Animals↗

Complete nucleotide sequence of mouse immunoglobulin mu gene and comparison with other immunoglobulin heavy chain genes.

We have determined the complete nucleotides sequence (2168 bases) of the immunoglobulin mu gene cloned from newborn mouse DNA. The cloned 13kb fragment contained the entire constant region gene sequence that is interrupted by three intervening sequences at the junction of domains as previously shown in the gamma 1, gamma 2 b and alpha genes. The amino acid sequence predicted by the nucleotide sequence agrees with that of the mu chain secreted by a myeloma MOPC104E except for 8 residues out of 448 residues. The homologous domains of the mu, gamma 1 and gamma 2b genes are more similar to each other than the different domains of the mu genes are. The result implicates that the class of the immunoglobulin heavy chain genes diverged after the heavy chain genes established the multi-domain structure. The short intervening sequences of the mu and gamma genes are more conserved than the coding sequences except for the COOH-terminal domains. The results implicate that the nucleotide sequence of the intervening sequence is under selective pressure, possibly to maintain a secondary structure of the nuclear RNA to be spliced.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Deletion of immunoglobulin heavy chain genes from expressed allelic chromosome.

We have studied the organization of immunoglobulin heavy-chain genes in a gamma 2b-chain (BALB/c allotype)-producing myeloma BKC F1 # 15 induced in a F1 mouse between C57BL and BALB/c. Southern blot hybridization studies using cloned mu, gamma 1 and gamma 2b-chain genes as probes demonstrate that the mu- and gamma 1-chain genes of the expressed chromosome are deleted while these genes of the unexpressed chromosome are retained. The gamma 2b-chain gene of the expressed allele is rearranged while that gene of the unexpressed allele seems unchanged, as do the gamma 2a-chain genes. These results support the allelic deletion mechanism in heavy-chain class switch and the order of H chain genes.

Alleles↗

Cloning and determination of a putative promoter region of a mouse ribosomal deoxyribonucleic acid fragment.

An endonuclease EcoRI digest of mouse DNA was subjected to molecular cloning, after partial purification with respect to the ribosomal RNA sequence, using lambda gtWES x lambda B with an in vitro packaging technique. Twelve positive clones were obtained from approximately 2 X 10(4) plaques. One of the clones transferred to the plasmid pBR322 (PMrEL-1) was about 14.9 kb long, hybridizing only with 18S rRNA but not with 28S rRNA. Hybridization of restriction fragments and electron microscopic studies of the R-loop confirmed that this fragment carried about half of the 18S rRNA sequences at one end, suggesting that it contained the initiation site for the 45S preribosomal RNA (pre-rRNA). S1-nuclease protection mapping with hybrids between restriction fragments of the cloned DNA and the 45S pre-rRNA indicated that at least major transcription of the 45S RNA started at a site approximately 4.0 kb upstream from the 5' end of the 18S rRNA. This was confirmed by electron microscopic observations of these hybrids.

Animals↗

Untranslated immunoglobulin kappa light chain mRNA in a lambda light chain-producing mouse myeloma, MOPC104E.

Fourteen clones were isolated in culture from a mouse myeloma, MOPC104E. All clones had kappa and lambda types of light chain mRNAs in approximately equimolar quantity as assayed by hybridization with specific complementary DNA (cDNA). However, the myeloma produces and secretes only lambda-type light chain protein. Both kappa- and lambda-type mRNAs in these clones were indistinguishable from kappa- and lambda-type mRNAs of other myelomas with respect to (a) adsorption to oligo-(dT) cellulose, (b) molecular size (12.6 S), and (c) thermal stability of the hybrids formed with corresponding cDNA. The kappa chain mRNA of MOPC104E cells, however, was translated very inefficiently both in vivo and in vitro, whereas the lambda chain mRNA was translated efficiently. These results indicate that each cell of MOPC104E myeloma synthesizes a crippled kappa chain mRNA in addition to a normal lambda chain mRNA.

Animals↗

Nucleotide sequences of class-switch recombination region of the mouse immunoglobulin gamma 2b-chain gene.

We have cloned a rearranged gamma 2b-chain gene from mouse myeloma MOPC141. Nucleotide-sequence determination demonstrated that the rearranged gamma 2b-chain gene was formed by a recombination between the region flanking the 5'-ends of the embryonic mu-chain gene and that of the gamma 2b-chain genes. Nucleotide sequences similar to the one located adjacent to the recombination site were found in other parts of the region flanking the 5'-end of the mu-chain-gene, as well as in the region flanking the 5'-end of the gamma 1-chain gene. The common sequence (GGTANNAAAGNAC) shares extensive homology with the sequence proximal to the insertion site of the bacterial insertion element IS2.

Animals↗

Immunoglobulin gamma 1 heavy chain gene: structural gene sequences cloned in a bacterial plasmid.

Immunoglobulin gamma 1 heavy chain cDNA was cloned into an Escherichia coli plasmid pCR1 and its nucleotide sequence was determined. The hybrid plasmid contained approx. 900-bases-long gamma 1 chain cDNA sequence, including the complete sequence of the CH2 and CH3 domains and the 3' untranslated region, and partial sequence of the CH1 domain. The nucleotide sequence predicts an extra lysine at the carboxyl-terminus of the gamma 1 chain. Comparison of the nucleotide sequence of 3' untranslated regions of the immunoglobulin gamma 1 chain and kappa light chain showed a significant homology although lengths are quite divergent.

Animals↗

Rearrangement of immunoglobulin gamma 1-chain gene and mechanism for heavy-chain class switch.

Cloning and nucleotide sequence determination suggest that the rearranged gamma 1-chain gene in a gamma 1-chain-producing myeloma a-pears to be formed by the recombination between the 5' flanking regions of the gamma 1- and mu-chain genes of undifferentiated cells. The recombination site is distinct from the putative J region and is a novel region that we call the S region. We have extended our previous model that explains the heavy-chain class switching by two or more successive recombination events.

Alleles↗

Nucleotide sequence divergence of mouse immunoglobulin gamma 1 and gamma 2b chain genes and the hypothesis of intervening sequence-mediated domain transfer.

The nucleotide sequences of the constant portions of mouse immunoglobulin gamma 1 and gamma 2b genes were compared. A remarkable homology was found in a long (about 500 nucleotides) continuous segment including the entire CH1 coding region and about the first half of the first intervening sequence. Furthermore, comparison of amino acid sequences of four gamma-class chains revealed that the CH1 domain shows limited divergence among gamma 1, gamma 2a, and gamma 2b. Interestingly, the homology region extends to the CH2 domain in gamma 2a and gamma 2b. These findings suggest that, during their evolution, a double unequal crossing-over event has taken place at different intervening sequences, resulting in the transfer of the DNA segment coding for the CH1 domain or CH1-CH2 domains. A possible evolutionary implication for such an "intervening sequence-mediated domain transfer" event is discussed.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Induction and regulation of immunoglobulin expression in a murine pre-B cell line, 70Z/3. I. Cell cycle-associated induction of sIgM expression and kappa-chain synthesis in 70Z/3 cells by LPS stimulation.

Stimulation of a murine pre-B cell line, 70Z/3, with LPS induced sIgM expression and an increase of L kappa-chain mRNA within 12 hr. In synchronized 70Z/3 cells, the cell division cycle was 10 to 11 hr and LSP-stimulation did not affect the cell division cycle. LPS-signals given at G1/S boundary induced sIgM expression in the G2 to M-phase. On the other hand, LPS-signals given after M-phase did not induce sIgM expression. Inhibition of cell division with demecorcin did not affect sIgM expression in the M-phase. Induction of intracellular kappa-chain synthesis was also observed in the G2 to M-phase when the LPS-stimulation was provided at G1/S boundary, but LPS-signals given after the M-phase did not induce de novo synthesis of kappa-chain. These results showed that LPS-induced sIgM expression and synthesis of kappa-chain were cell cycle-related events and sIgM expression was associated wih de novo synthesis of kappa-chain.

Animals↗

Mutual homology of mouse immunoglobulin gamma-chain gene sequences.

We have assessed the relative homology of mouse immunoglobulin heavy-chain gene sequence using complementary DNAs (cDNAs) synthesized against gamma-chain mRNAs (gamma 1, gamma 2a, gamma 2b, and gamma 3) purified from mouse myelomas. cDNAs complementary to the gamma-chain mRNAs did not cross-hybridize with the mu- and alpha-chain mRNAs, whereas they cross-hybridized to significant extents (22--66%) with the gamma-chain mRNAs of other subclasses. The heterologous hybrids formed, however, melt at 5--13 degrees C lower temperatures as compared to the homologous hybrids, indicating that significant portions of the heterologous hybrids are mismatched. The rates of the cross-hybridization reactions are 2- to 17-fold slower than those of the homologous hybridization reactions. Therefore, the gamma-chain gene sequences of four subclasses share a part of homology with each other, but they are different enough to be measured separately. Cross-hybridization analysis indicate that the gamma 2a and gamma 2b genes are the most closely related, while the gamma 1 and gamma 3 genes are the least related among the gamma subclass genes.

Animals↗

Cloning immunoglobulin gamma 2b chain gene of mouse: characterization and partial sequence determination.

DNA from newborn mice was digested with restriction endonuclease EcoRI, and a 6.6-kilobase fragment encoding immunoglobulin gamma 2b chain mRNA derived from MPC 11 myeloma was enriched about 100-fold by RPC-5 column chromatography and agarose gell electrophoresis. The 6.6-kilobase fragment was cloned with lambda gt WES.lambda B as EK2 vector. The cloned phage (lambda WES.IgH22) contained the constant region gene of the gamma 2b chain but not the variable region gene of MPC 11 mRNA. The constant region genes of the other gamma chains (i.e., gamma 1, gamma 2a, and gamma 3) were not present in lambda gt WES.IgH22 DNA. R-loop mapping indicates that the gamma 2b chain structural gene is divided into two parts (330 +/- 60 SD base pairs and 930 +/- 110 SD base pairs) by an intervening sequence (360 +/- 100 SD base pairs). The nucleotide sequence around the junction of the hinge region and CH2 domain was determined and shown to match the amino acid sequence of the initial part of the CH2 domain of the gamma 2b chain. The base sequence upstream from the junction, however, is unrelated to the amino acid sequence of the CH1 domain and the hinge region of all the gamma chains whose sequences have been determined. These results indicate that the gamma 2b chain gene is interrupted at the junction of the hinge region and CH2 domain by an intervening sequence. The existence of two more intervening sequences, one between the CH1 domain and the hinge region and the other between the CH2 and CH3 domains, is discussed.

Animals↗

Organization of immunoglobulin heavy chain genes and allelic deletion model.

We have assessed the number of times the gene sequence encoding constant regions of mouse immunoglobulin heavy chains gamma1, gamma2a, and gamma3 are represented in the mouse genome by hybridization kinetic analysis. All three genes are present at one copy each per haploid genome in normal tissues and myelomas producing IgM or IgG3. IgG1-producing myelomas, however, contain 1 copy each of the gamma1 and gamma2a genes and 0.5 copy of the gamma3 gene per haploid genome. IgG2b-producing myelomas contain 1 copy of the gamma2a gene and 0.5 copy each of the gamma1 and gamma3 genes per haploid genome. IgG2a-producing myelomas contain 1 copy of the gamma2a gene and 0.5 copy each of the gamma1 and gamma3 genes per haploid genome. In myelomas producing IgA, all three gamma genes are represented 0.5 times per haploid genome. In order to account for the results we propose an allelic deletion model: (i) The specific deletion of heavy chain constant region genes accompanies the recombination of a variable region gene to a constant region gene. (ii) The portion of the chromosome that resides between two joining sequences is excised out of the chromosome. (iii) The recombination occurs on one of the alleles. Based on this model we also propose that heavy chain genes are arranged on one chromosome in the following order; variable region genes, unknown spacer sequence, mu, gamma3, gamma1, gamma2b, gamma2a, and alpha.

Alleles↗

Induced synthesis of immunoglobulin messenger RNA accompanies induction of immunoglobulin production in cultured mouse spleen cells.

Immunoglobulin kappa type light chain mRNA (Lkappa mRNA) accumulated in parallel with secretion of immunoglobulin M in cultured mouse spleen cells activated by lipopolysaccharide. Actinomycin D suppressed the accumulation of kappa chain mRNA completely without affecting the degradation rate of kappa chain mRNA. The half life of kappa chain mRNA was about 9 h. Available evidence indicates that lipopolysaccharide stimulates de novo synthesis of kappa chain mRNA. The accumulation of kappa chain mRNA was markedly suppressed by inhibitors of DNA or protein synthesis such as hydroxyurea, cytosine arabinoside and cycloheximide.

Animals↗