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V(D)J recombination

Genes for lymphocyte antigen receptors are assembled from variable (V), diversity (D) & joining (J) gene segments. V(D)J recombination is initiated by RAG-1 protein & RAG-2 proteins which introduce DNA double strand breaks between the V, D & J segments & their flanking recombination signal sequences (RSSs). RSSs consist of conserved heptamer & nonamer motifs separated by a nonconserved spacer of 12 or 23 base pairs. The DNA double strand breaks present two types of DNA end structures: 1) hairpin sealed coding ends 2) phosphorylated blunt signal ends These ends are independently repaired by the non homologous end joining (NHEJ) pathway to form coding & signal joints respectively. * see figure

Related

V(D)J recombinase-1 (V(D)J recombination-activating protein-1, RING finger protein 74, RAG1) V(D)J recombinase-2 (V(D)J recombination-activating protein, RAG2)

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Figures/Diagrams

V-D-J Recombination

References

  1. van Gent et al. Cell 85:107-13, 1996
  2. UniProt :accession Q96SD1