Abstract
Thymocytes from mice congenitally deficient for TCR alpha chain synthesis were examined for the status of their TCR beta chain genes, by DNA sequencing and by a novel technique that analyzes populations of gene rearrangements. TCR beta chain genes were predominantly productively rearranged, in contrast with the statistical prediction for a quasi-random rearrangement process. Therefore, productive TCR beta chain gene rearrangement appears to be a critical step in thymocyte maturation, independent of TCR alpha chain expression. Moreover, the beta chain gene rearrangements in TCR alpha-/-mice are typical of those found in the thymus and periphery of normal mice. Thus, the extent of junctional diversity is a property of TCR genes that is imposed prior to selection on the mature alpha beta TCR.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Base Sequence
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Blotting, Southern
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Cloning, Molecular
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DNA / genetics
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DNA / isolation & purification
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Gene Rearrangement, beta-Chain T-Cell Antigen Receptor*
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Genetic Variation*
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Genotype
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Mice
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Mice, Mutant Strains
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Molecular Sequence Data
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Oligodeoxyribonucleotides
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Polymerase Chain Reaction / methods
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Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / genetics*
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Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / physiology*
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Restriction Mapping
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T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
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Thymus Gland / immunology
Substances
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Oligodeoxyribonucleotides
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Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta
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DNA
Associated data
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GENBANK/L33709
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GENBANK/S60897
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GENBANK/S60899
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GENBANK/S60900
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GENBANK/S60901
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GENBANK/S60902
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GENBANK/S60903
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GENBANK/S60904
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GENBANK/S60905
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GENBANK/S60924