Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

T Hunkapiller

Publications and source records attributed to T Hunkapiller.

34 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Isolation and sequence of L3T4 complementary DNA clones: expression in T cells and brain.

T lymphocytes express on their surface not only a specific receptor for antigen and major histocompatibility complex proteins, but also a number of additional glycoproteins that are thought to play accessory roles in the processes of recognition and signal transduction. L3T4 is one such T-cell surface protein that is expressed on most mouse thymocytes and on mature mouse T cells that recognize class II (Ia) major histocompatibility complex proteins. Such cells are predominantly of the helper/inducer phenotype. In this study, complementary DNA clones encoding L3T4 were isolated and sequenced. The predicted protein sequence shows that L3T4 is a member of the immunoglobulin gene superfamily. It is encoded by a single gene that does not require rearrangement prior to expression. Although the protein has not previously been demonstrated on nonhematopoietic cells, two messenger RNA species specific for L3T4 are found in brain. The minor species comigrates with the L3T4 transcript in T cells, whereas the major species is 1 kilobase smaller.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The T cell differentiation antigen Leu-2/T8 is homologous to immunoglobulin and T cell receptor variable regions.

Leu-2/T8 is a cell surface glycoprotein expressed by most cytotoxic and suppressor T lymphocytes. Its expression on T cells correlates best with recognition of class I major histocompatibility complex antigens, and it has been postulated to be a receptor for these proteins. We have determined the complete primary structure of Leu-2/T8 from the nucleotide sequence of its cDNA. The protein contains a classical signal peptide, two external domains, a hydrophobic transmembrane region, and a cytoplasmic tail. The N-terminal domain of the protein has striking homology to variable regions of immunoglobulins and the T cell receptor. The membrane-proximal domain appears to be a hinge-like region similar to that of immunoglobulin heavy chains. The superfamily of immunologically important surface molecules can now be extended to include Leu-2/T8.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Rearranged beta T cell receptor genes in a helper T cell clone specific for lysozyme: no correlation between V beta and MHC restriction.

The helper T cell clone 3H.25 is specific for hen egg white lysozyme and the class II MHC molecule I-Ab. This TH cell has three rearrangements in the beta-chain gene family-a V beta-D beta-J beta 1 and a D beta 2-J beta 2 rearrangement on one homolog and a D beta 1-J beta 2 rearrangement on the other. These observations demonstrate that this functional T lymphocyte expresses only a single V beta gene segment and, accordingly, exhibits allelic exclusion of beta-chain gene expression. The rearranged 3H.25 V beta gene segment is the same as that expressed in a T helper cell specific for cytochrome c and an I-Ek MHC molecule. Thus, there is no simple correlation between the V beta gene segment and antigen specificity or MHC restriction.

Animals↗

Structure of Leu-2/T8 as deduced from the sequence of a cDNA clone.

We have determined the primary structure of the Leu-2/T8 T lymphocyte differentiation antigen from the complete nucleotide sequence of a cDNA clone. The protein consists of a classical signal peptide, two external protein domains, a hydrophobic transmembrane segment, and a highly charged intracytoplasmic tail. The N-terminal external domain of the mature protein is homologous to immunoglobulin and T cell receptor variable regions. Protein structural predictions suggest that this domain can indeed fold like an immunoglobulin domain. The Leu-2/T8 protein has no segment that is homologous to a constant region. However, the membrane-proximal domain appears to serve as a hinge. These studies indicate that Leu-2/T8 is another member of the immunoglobulin supergene family.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Mouse T cell antigen receptor: structure and organization of constant and joining gene segments encoding the beta polypeptide.

The germ-line joining (J) gene segments and constant (C) genes encoding the beta chain of the mouse T cell antigen receptor have been isolated on a single cosmid clone. There are two constant genes, C beta 1 and C beta 2, each associated with a cluster of J beta gene segments. The nucleotide sequences of the C beta 2 gene and of the J beta 2 cluster gene segments have been determined. The coding sequence of the C beta 2 gene is very similar to the sequence of a cDNA clone encoded by the C beta 1 gene. The C beta 2 gene has four exons; exon-intron structure does not obviously correspond to the functional domains of the protein. The J beta 2 gene segment cluster contains six functional J gene segments. We have isolated specific probes for the C beta 1, C beta 2, J beta 1, and J beta 2 regions to examine DNA rearrangements in T lymphocytes. DNA rearrangements can occur in both J beta gene segment clusters, and both C beta genes appear functional.

Animals↗

Nucleotide sequence of a light chain gene of the mouse I-A subregion: A beta d.

Ia (I region-associated) antigens are cell-surface glycoproteins involved in the regulation of immune responsiveness. They are composed of one heavy (alpha) and one light (beta) polypeptide chain. We have sequenced the gene encoding the A beta d chain of the BALB/c mouse. The presence of six exons is predicted by comparison with the complementary DNA sequences of human beta chains and with partial protein sequence data for the A beta d polypeptide. Sequence comparisons have been made to other proteins involved in immune responses and the consequent implications for the evolutionary relationships of these genes are discussed.

Animals↗

DNA sequence of the gene encoding the E alpha Ia polypeptide of the BALB/c mouse.

A 3.4-kilobase DNA fragment containing the gene coding for the E alpha chain of an Ia (I region-associated) antigen from the BALB/c mouse has been sequenced. It contains at least three exons, which correlate with the major structural domains of the E alpha chain-the two external domains alpha 1 and alpha 2, and the transmembrane-cytoplasmic domain. The coding sequence of the mouse E alpha gene shows striking homology to its counterpart at the DNA and protein levels. The translated alpha 2 exon demonstrates significant similarity to beta 2-microglobulin, to immunoglobulin constant region domains, and to certain domains of transplantation antigens. These observations and those of others suggest that the Ia antigen, transplantation antigen, and immunoglobulin gene families share a common ancestor.

Animals↗

Three cDNA clones encoding mouse transplantation antigens: homology to immunoglobulin genes.

We constructed cDNA libraries from poly(A)+ RNA isolated from cell lines of two different inbred strains of mice, and screened the libraries with a cDNA clone encoding a human transplantation antigen. Three cDNA clones were identified, sequenced and found to encode amino acid sequences highly homologous to portions of a known mouse transplantation antigen. Comparison of the cDNA sequences of mouse transplantation antigens with the constant region domains of the mouse immunoglobulin mu gene reveals a striking homology, which suggests that the two genes share a common ancestor. Antibody genes undergo DNA rearrangement during B cell differentiation that are correlated with their expression. In contrast, DNA blots with these cDNA probes suggest that the genes for the transplantation antigens are not rearranged in the genomes of liver or embryo cells, which express these antigens, as compared with sperm cells, which do not express these antigens. In Bam Hl-digested liver DNAs from different inbred strains of mice, 10-15 bands of hybridization were found. Accordingly, the genes encoding the transplantation antigens appear to constitute a multigene family with similar gene numbers in different mice.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Expression of IgD may use both DNA rearrangement and RNA splicing mechanisms.

From a library of mouse sperm DNA, we have isolated two overlapping clones which contain the C(delta) gene. One of these clones also contains the C(mu) gene. The C(delta) gene is separated from the C(mu) membrane exons by approximately 2 kilobases (kb) of DAN. The C(delta) gene was identified by (a) hybridization to poly(A)(+)RNA prepared from the IgD-producing rat plasma cell tumor IR731, and (b) homology of a translated nucleotide sequence to the amino acid sequence of the human delta chain. The C(delta) gene spans 8 kb of DNA in the germ line. Plasmid subclones of the C(delta) gene were used as probes in Southern and RNA blot experiments. RNA blot analysis of cytoplasmic poly(A)(+)RNA from IR731 and a mu(+)delta(+) B-cell hybridoma revealed 1.6- and 2.7-kb delta mRNA species with different 3' ends, which presumably encode the secreted and membrane-bound forms, respectively, of the delta chain. Southern blot analysis of DNA from two mu(+)delta(+) lymphomas revealed that the C(delta) gene is in the germ-line configuration in each case. Restriction map analysis of C(mu) and C(delta) genomic clones isolated from a library of normal mu(+)delta(+) B-cell DNA also gave no evidence for DNA rearrangement in the region between the C(mu) and C(delta) genes. Taken together, these data suggest that IgD expression in mu(+)delta(+) B cells does not involve a V(H)-to-C(delta) DNA switch rearrangement. We propose that simultaneous expression of C(delta) and C(delta) with a single V(H) gene is mediated by two alternative routes of RNA processing of a primary nuclear transcript which contains the V(H), C(mu), and C(delta) genes. In contrast, analogous experiments with myeloma IR731 DNA revealed that the C(mu) gene has been deleted from the myeloma DNA and that the C(delta) gene has undergone DNA rearrangement, presumably including a switch recombination of the V(H) gene from the C(mu) to the C(delta) gene. These results indicate that two alternative mechanisms may be used in the expression of IgD molecules-RNA splicing in B cells and DNA rearrangement in plasma cells.

Animals↗

The joining of V and J gene segments creates antibody diversity.

The variable regions of mouse kappa (kappa) chains are coded for by multiple variable (V) gene segments and multiple joining (J) gene segments. The V kappa gene segments code for residues 1 to 95; the J kappa gene segments code for residues 96 to 108 (refs 1-3). This gene organisation is similar to that encoding the V lambda regions. Diversity in V kappa regions arises from several sources: (1) there are multiple germ-line V kappa gene segments and J kappa gene segments; (2) combinatorial joining of V kappa gene segments with different germline J kappa gene segments; and possibly, (3) somatic point mutation, as postulated for V lambda gene segments. Also, from a comparison of the number of germ-line J kappa gene segments and amino acid sequences, it has been suggested that J kappa region sequences may be determined by the way V kappa and J kappa gene segments are joined. This report supports this model by directly associating various J kappa sequences with given J kappa gene segments.

Animals↗

Model genomes: the benefits of analysing homologous human and mouse sequences.

The human genome initiative has provided the motivating force for launching sequencing projects suitable for testing various DNA-sequencing strategies, as well as motivating the development of mapping and sequencing technologies. In addition to projects targeting selected regions of the human genome, other projects are based on model organisms such as yeast, nematode and mouse. The sequencing of homologous regions of human and mouse genomes is a new approach to genome analysis, and is providing insights into gene evolution, function and regulation which could not be determined so easily from the analysis of just one species.

Animals↗

A microchemical facility for the analysis and synthesis of genes and proteins.

A series of automated instruments that use state-of-the-art chemical methods has been developed for high-sensitivity protein sequencing, DNA synthesis and peptide synthesis. These instruments have been integrated into a centralized microchemical facility in order to promote their use for the study of a variety of biologically interesting problems. This facility has as one of its major functions the development of new chemistries and instrumentation for the structural analysis and synthesis of genes and proteins.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The murine T-cell receptor uses a limited repertoire of expressed V beta gene segments.

Only 10 different V beta gene segments were found when the sequences of 15 variable (V beta) genes of the mouse T-cell receptor were examined. From this analysis we calculate that the total number of expressed V beta gene segments may be 21 or fewer, which makes the expressed germline V beta repertoire much smaller than that of immunoglobulin heavy-chain or light-chain genes. We suggest that beta-chain somatic diversification is concentrated at the V beta-D beta-J beta junctions.

Amino Acid Sequence↗