Abstract

In jawed vertebrates the V-(D)-J rearrangement is the main mechanism generating limitless variations of antigen-specific receptors, immunoglobulins (IGs), and T-cell receptors (TCRs) from few genes. Once the initial diversity is established in primary lymphoid organs, further diversification occurs in IGs by somatic hypermutation, a mechanism from which rearranged TCR genes were thought to be excluded. Here, we report the locus organization and expression of the T-cell receptor gamma (TCRG) genes in the Arabian camel (Camelus dromedarius). Expression data provide evidence that dromedary utilizes only two TCRG V-J genomic arrangements and, as expected, CDR3 contributes the major variability in the V domain. The data also suggest that diversity might be generated by mutation in the productively rearranged TCRGV genes. As for IG genes, the mutational target is biased toward G and C bases and (A/G/T)G(C/T)(A/T) motif (or DGYW). The replacement and synonymous substitutions (R/S) ratios in TCRGV regions are higher for CDR than for framework region, thus suggesting selection toward amino acid changes in CDR. Using the counterpart human TCR γδ receptor as a template, structural models computed adopting a comparative procedure show that nonconservative mutations contribute to diversity in CDR2 and at the γδ V domain interface.

Autore Pugliese

• Massari Serafina

Tutti gli autori

• Vaccarelli G. , Antonacci R. , Tasco G. , Yang F. , Giordano L. , El Ashmaoui H.M. , Hassanane M.S. , Massari S. , Casadio R. , Ciccarese S.

Titolo volume/Rivista

EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY

Anno di pubblicazione

2012

ISSN

0014-2980

ISBN

Non Disponibile

Numero di citazioni Wos

6

Ultimo Aggiornamento Citazioni

28/04/2018

Numero di citazioni Scopus

6

Ultimo Aggiornamento Citazioni

28/04/2018

Settori ERC

Non Disponibile

Codici ASJC

Non Disponibile