Intra-Vk Cluster Recombination Shapes the Ig Kappa Locus Repertoire [ChIP-seq]
Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT: 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.
ORGANISM(S): Mus musculus
PROVIDER: GSE140655 | GEO | 2020/01/01
REPOSITORIES: GEO
ACCESS DATA