PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

M Malissen

Publications and source records attributed to M Malissen.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Complexity, polymorphism, and recombination of mouse T-cell receptor alpha gene families.

Genomic DNA from a large panel of inbred strains of mice were hybridized sequentially with 15 V alpha, 2 V delta, 1 C alpha, and 1 C delta probes. Most of the V alpha probes detected a high degree of polymorphism and have allowed the definition of five mouse T-cell receptor alpha (Tcr alpha) haplotypes. One of these haplotypes (Tcre alpha) appears to arise from a recombination between the Tcrb alpha and Tcra alpha haplotypes, the latter being the most frequently found in the conventional inbred strains. This recombination event clearly indicates that the members of at least 11 V alpha sub-families are not closely linked but highly interspersed with one another on chromosome 14.

Animals↗

The joining of germ-line V alpha to J alpha genes replaces the preexisting V alpha-J alpha complexes in a T cell receptor alpha, beta positive T cell line.

To determine whether T cell receptor genes follow the same principle of allelic exclusion as B lymphocytes, we have analyzed the rearrangements and expression of TCR alpha and beta genes in the progeny of the CD3+, CD4-/CD8- M14T line. Here, we show that this line can undergo secondary rearrangements that replace the pre-existing V alpha-J alpha rearrangements by joining an upstream V alpha gene to a downstream J alpha segment. Both the productively and nonproductively rearranged alleles in the M14T line can undergo secondary rearrangements while its TCR beta genes are stable. These secondary recombinations are usually productive, and new forms of TCR alpha polypeptides are expressed in these cells in association with the original C beta chain. Developmental control of this V alpha-J alpha replacement phenomenon could play a pivotal role in the thymic selection of the T cell repertoire.

Alleles↗

A T cell clone expresses two T cell receptor alpha genes but uses one alpha beta heterodimer for allorecognition and self MHC-restricted antigen recognition.

All of the T cell receptor alpha- and beta-chain rearrangements present in a dual reactive T cell clone were characterized. This clone exhibits allelic exclusion of its beta-chain genes in that only one of the two alleles is productively rearranged. Unexpectedly, it displays two productive V alpha-gene rearrangements, which are both transcribed into 1.5 kb mRNA. The contribution of each of the two productive alpha genes to the dual recognition was analyzed by gene transfer. To this end, each of the two alpha genes was separately transfected with the single productively rearranged beta gene. Transfer of only one of the two alpha beta combinations restored both allogeneic MHC recognition and self MHC-restricted antigen recognition. Thus, T cell dual recognition results from the cross-reactive recognition of an allo-MHC product by a single antigen-specific and MHC-restricted alpha beta T cell receptor. Furthermore, the presence of two productively rearranged alpha-chain genes in a T cell clone raises questions concerning the level at which allelic exclusion operates in T cells.

Animals↗

T-cell-specific deletion of T-cell receptor transgenes allows functional rearrangement of endogenous alpha- and beta-genes.

In B cells the loci encoding immunoglobulin chains usually show allelic exclusion; a given B cell transcribes and translates only one productively rearranged allele of the heavy and light chain loci. This ensures that each B cell expresses only one antigen receptor. The loci encoding T-cell receptor (TCR) alpha- and beta-genes may behave similarly. We have previously reported that the expression of a transgenic TCR beta-chain prevents functional and nonfunctional V beta rearrangements in the endogenous beta-chain loci but not D beta J beta rearrangements. We have also been unable to detect the expression of the TCR gamma-chain locus in thymocytes of these mice (unpublished observations). To study the mechanisms involved in forming a mature T-cell repertoire further, we have constructed mice expressing alpha- and beta-TCR transgenes derived from a cytotoxic T-cell clone that is specific for the male antigen H-Y in the context of H-2Db MHC molecules. Here we show that in these mice rearrangement of endogenous alpha-chain loci is also suppressed, although to a lesser extent than rearrangement of beta-chain loci. In addition, in male alpha beta TCR transgenic mice we observed T-cell clones which had deleted both transgenic alpha- and beta-chain genes and expressed endogenous alpha- and beta-chain TCR genes. These cells are presumably derived from rare thymocytes that leave the male thymus because their TCR no longer recognizes self antigen. The vast majority of CD4+8+ nonmature thymocytes expressing alpha- and beta-transgenes are deleted in the male thymus.

Animals↗

Multiple C4/Slp genes distinguished by expression after transfection.

The S region of the murine major histocompatibility complex contains two closely related genes: C4, encoding the fourth component of complement, and Slp, encoding sex-limited protein. We cloned these genes from a cosmid library of the B10.W7R strain that does not show androgen regulation of the Slp protein. Restriction site polymorphisms revealed at least four C4-like genes within the Sw7 locus, indicating evolutionary amplification of this region. Transfection of these genes into L cells resulted in expression, processing, and secretion of immunologically correct C4 and Slp proteins. At least two different Slp genes and one C4 gene were capable, after transfection, of expressing C4 and Slp indistinguishable from macrophage-derived protein. A third Slp gene exists within this locus whose recombinant cognate did not express in L cells. Thus, the B10.W7R S region includes one C4 gene and at least three Slp-like genes.

Animals↗

Tracts of high or low sequence divergence in the mouse major histocompatibility complex.

The K, I and S regions of the mouse major histocompatibility complex (MHC) are composed of long tracts of DNA which differ in sequence divergence. A correlation exists between the location of an MHC gene in a variable or conserved chromosomal tract and the degree of polymorphism and diversity of the proteins encoded by its alleles. Variable tracts appear to be the result of mechanisms which mutate certain coding and non-coding sequences to the same extent and selective pressures operating on the genes.

Animals↗

The human T cell antigen receptor is encoded by variable, diversity, and joining gene segments that rearrange to generate a complete V gene.

A cDNA clone YT35 , synthesized from poly(A)+ RNA of the human T cell tumor Molt 3, exhibits homology to the variable (V), joining (J), and constant (C) regions of immunoglobulin genes. We have isolated and sequenced the germ-line V and J gene segment counterparts to YT35 from a human cosmid library, and these failed to encode 14 nucleotides of the cDNA clone between the V and J regions. We postulate that these 14 nucleotides are encoded by a third gene segment analogous to the diversity (D) gene segments of immunoglobulin heavy chain genes. This T cell antigen receptor V gene appears to be assembled from three gene segments, V, D, and J, and accordingly most closely resembles immunoglobulin heavy chain V genes.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The T cell receptor beta chain genes are located on chromosome 6 in mice and chromosome 7 in humans.

Homologous clones that encode the beta chain of the T cell antigen receptor have been isolated recently from both murine and human cDNA libraries. These cDNA clones have been used in connection with interspecies hybrid cell lines to determine that the murine T cell receptor gene is located on chromosome 6 and the human gene on chromosome 7. In situ hybridization confirms these data and further localizes these genes to band B of chromosome 6 in the mouse and bands 7p13-21 in the human genome. The organization of the T cell antigen receptor J beta gene segments and C beta genes appears to be conserved, since very few intraspecies polymorphisms of restriction fragment length have been detected in either mouse or human DNA.

Animals↗

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↗

Transformation of LMTK- cells with purified HLA class I genes. II. Serologic characterization of HLA-A3 and CW3 molecules.

The expression of two different HLA class I genes was observed after transformation of LMTK- cells. The corresponding class I molecules reacted differentially with monomorphic monoclonal antibodies (m.Ab). Absorption and elution studies of the human alloantibodies reacting with the transformed cells and cellular radioimmunoassay of these cells with polymorphic m.Ab resulted in the identification of HLA-A3 and CW3 molecules. These transformed cells were used to immunize C3H mice and induce the production of xenogeneic antisera, which, following absorption, showed polymorphic reactivity with human cells, suggesting that some of these sera could be used as typing reagents.

Animals↗

Transformation of murine LMTK- cells with purified HLA class I genes. I. Modification of conformation of murine beta 2-microglobulin upon its association with HLA heavy chains.

Murine LMTK- cells were unexpectedly found to cross-react with a murine anti-human beta 2-microglobulin (beta 2-m)monoclonal antibody (m.Ab) after transformation with cosmid clones containing different purified HLA class I genes. The same cross-reactivity was observed with CTP 34 B4 (murine x human) somatic hybrid cells, which express class I molecules constituted of human HLA heavy chains and murine beta 2-m. Inhibition studies of the complement-dependent cytolysis mediated by the cross-reacting m.Ab indicated that isolated murine beta 2-m does not express the cross-reacting determinant, suggesting that its expression by the transformed cells reflects conformational modification of murine beta 2-m upon its association with HLA heavy chains. These results illustrate one of the possible post-translational mechanisms through which the antigenicity of a polypeptide chain can be modified. They might provide a serologic marker of the third domain of HLA class I heavy chains. Finally, because quantitative differences of reactivity with the anti-human beta 2-m m.Ab were observed, depending on the HLA class I genes used for transformation, these results individualize two families of HLA class I heavy chains responsible for different conformational modifications of murine beta 2-m.

Animals↗

HLA cosmid clones show complete, widely spaced human class I genes with occasional clusters.

To understand the organization of the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) gene region and its relationship to the transplantation antigens expressed at the cell surface we have isolated clones containing HLA class I genes from a cosmid library (Grosveld et al., Gene 13, 227, 1981) constructed with the DNA from an individual of defined haplotype. Most of the cosmids contain a single HLA gene in 30-40 kb of human DNA, indicating that human class I genes are rather widely spaced; two contain two genes and one contains three. Most of these genes appear to be complete; the double or multiple genes are found in the same orientation. Differences in restriction maps are evident but some common features are observed in particular in the 5' half of these genes.

Bacteriophage lambda↗

Exon/intron organization and complete nucleotide sequence of an HLA gene.

We have isolated and determined the sequence of a genomic clone containing the gene for a human class I transplantation antigen. The gene contains seven exons. The first five exons code respectively for a signal peptide, for the first, second, and third extracellular domains of the protein molecule, and for the transmembrane region. The cytoplasmic segment is encoded by part of the fifth and the sixth and the seventh exons. The structure of the protein encoded by this unit is closely homologous with known class I transplantation antigens.

Bacteriophage lambda↗