Abstract
The human T-cell receptor gamma (TCRG) locus comprises 14 variable genes (TRGV), five joining segments (TRGJ), and two constant region genes (TRGC). The constant gamma 1 gene, TRGC1, consists of three exons, whereas the TRGC2 gene contains four or five exons due to the duplication or triplication of exon 2 and spans 9.5 kb or 12 kb, respectively. In this paper, we define the alleles of the T-cell receptor gamma J2 and C2 genes, and we show that two Hind III allelic fragments, 5.4 kb and 8 kb, characterize unambiguously the C2 gene with duplication or triplication of exon 2. We show also that the cDNA of the HPB-MLT cell line results from the transcription of an allelic TRGC2 gene with duplicated exon 2. We propose a model involving unequal crossing-overs to explain the organization and the evolution of the TRGC locus. Moreover, we analyze the TCRG haplotypes in four different populations (French, Lebanese, Tunisian, and Black African) to underline their interest for population genetics.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bank, I., DePinho, R. A., Brenner, M. B., Cassimeris, J., Alt, F. W., and Chess, L.: A functional T3 molecule associated with a novel heterodimer on the surface of immature human thymocytes. Nature 322: 179–181, 1986
Borst, J., van de Griend, R. J., van Oostveen, J. W., Ang, S.-L., Melief, C. J., Seidman, J. G., and Bolhuis, R. L. H.: A T-cell receptor γ/CD3 complex found on cloned functional lymphocytes. Nature 325: 683–688, 1987
Brenner, M. B., McLean, J., Dialynas, D. P., Strominger, J. L., Smith, J. A., Owen, F. L., Seidman, J. G., Ip, S., Rosen, F., and Krangel, M. S.: Identification of a putative second T-cell receptor. Nature 322: 145–149, 1986
Brenner, M. B., McLean, J., Scheft, H., Riberdy, J., Ang, S.-L., Seidman, J. G., Devlin, P., and Krangel, M. S.: Two forms of the T-cell receptor y protein found on peripheral blood cytotoxic T lymphocytes. Nature 325: 689–694, 1987
Dialynas, D. P., Murre, C., Quertermous, T., Boss, J. M., Leiden, J. M., Seidman, J. G., and Strominger, J. L.: Cloning and sequence analysis of complementary DNA encoding an aberrantly rearranged human T-cell γ chain. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 83: 2619–2623, 1986
Forster, A., Huck, S., Ghanem, N., Lefranc, M.-P., and Rabbitts, T. H.: New subgroups in the human T-cell rearranging Vγ gene locus. EMBO J 6: 1945–1950, 1987
Ghanem, N., Lefranc, M.-P., and Lefranc, G.: Definition of the RFLP alleles in the human immunoglobulin IGHG locus. Eur J Immunol 18: 1059–1065, 1988a
Ghanem, N., Dariavach, P., Bensmana, M., Chibani, J., Lefranc, G., and Lefranc M.-P.: Polymorphism of immunoglobulin lambda constant region genes in populations from France, Lebanon and Tunisia. Expl Clin Immunogenet 5: 186–195, 1988b
Hochstenbach, F., Parker, C., McLean, J., Gieselmann, V., Band, H., Bank, I., Chess, L., Spits, H., Strominger, J. L., Seidman, J. G., and Brenner, M. B.: Characterization of a third form of the human T-cell receptor γ/δ. J Exp Med 168: 761–776, 1988
Huck, S. and Lefranc, M.-P.: Rearrangements to the JP1, JP and JP2 segments in the human T cell rearranging gamma gene (TRG) locus. FEBS Lett 224: 291–296, 1987
Huck, S., Dariavach, P., and Lefranc, M.-P.: Variable region genes in the human T cell rearranging gamma (TRG) locus: V-J junction and homology with the mouse genes. EMBO J 7: 719–726, 1988
Krangel, M. S., Band, H., Hata, S., McLean, J., and Brener, M. B.: Structurally divergent human T-cell receptor γ proteins encoded by distinct C genes. Science 237: 64–67, 1987
Lefranc M.-P. and Rabbitts, T. H.: Two tandemly organized human genes encoding the T-cell gamma constant region sequences show multiple rearrangements in different T-cell types. Nature 316: 464–466, 1985
Lefranc, G., Rivat, L., Serre, J. L., Lalouel, J. M., Pison, G., Loiselet, J., Ropartz, C., de Lange G., and van Loghem, E.: Common and uncommon immunoglobulin haplotypes among Lebanese communities. Hum Genet 41: 197–209, 1978
Lefranc, G., de Lange, G., Rivat, L., Langaney, A., Lefranc, M.-P., Ellouze, F., Star, G., Star, M., and van Loghem, E.: Gm, Am and Km immunoglobulin allotypes of two populations in Tunisia. Hum Genet 50: 199–211, 1979
Lefranc, M.-P., Forster, A., and Rabbitts, T. H.: Rearrangement of two distinct T-cell γ-chain variable-region genes in human DNA. Nature 319: 420–422, 1986a
Lefranc, M.-P., Forster, A., and Rabbitts, T. H.: Genetic polymorphism and exon changes of the constant regions of the human T-cell rearranging gene γ. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 83: 9596–9600, 1986b
Lefranc, M.-P., Forster, A., Baer, R., Stinson, M. A., and Rabbins, T. H.: Diversity and rearrangement of the human T-cell rearranging γ genes: nine germ-line variable genes belonging to two subgroups. Cell 45: 237–246, 1986c
Lefranc, M.-P., Forster, A., and Rabbitts, T. H.: Organization of the human T-cell rearranging gamma genes (TRG). In J. Kappler and M. Davis (eds.): The T Cell Receptor, Vol. 73, pp. 25–29, Alan Liss, New York, 1987
Li, Y., Szabo, P., and Posnett, D. N.: Molecular genotypes of the human T-cell receptor γ-chain. J Immunol 140: 1300–1303, 1988
Littman, D. R., Newton, M., Crommie, D., Ang, S.-L., Seidman, J. G., Gettner, S. N., and Weiss, A.: Characterization of an expressed CD3-associated Ti γ-chain reveals C domain polymorphism. Nature 326: 85–88, 1987
Moingeon, P., Ythier, A., Goubin, G., Faure, F., Nowill, A., Delmon, L., Rainaud, M., Forestier, F., Daffos, F., Bohuon, C, and Hercend, T.: A unique T-cell receptor complex expressed on human fetal lymphocytes displaying natural-killer activity. Nature 323: 638–640, 1986
Murre, C., Waldmann, R. A., Morton, C. C., Bongiovanni, K. F., Waldmann, T. A., Shows, T. B., and Seidman, J. G.: Human γ-chain genes rearranged in leukaemic T-cells and map to the short arm of chromosome 7. Nature 316: 549–552, 1985
Pelicci, P. G., Subar, M., Weiss, A., Dalla-Favera, R. and Littman, D. R.: Molecular diversity of the human T-gamma constant region genes. Science 237: 1051–1055, 1987
Quertermous, T., Murre, C., Dialynas, D., Duby, A. D., Strominger, J. L., Waldmann, T. A., and Seidman, J. G.: Human T-cell γ chain genes: organization, diversity and rearrangement. Science 231: 252–255, 1986
Quertermous, T., Strauss, W. M., van Dongen, J. J. M., and Seidman, J. G.: Human T-cell γ chain joining regions and T-cell development. J Immunol 138: 2687–2690, 1987
Rabbitts, T. H., Lefranc, M.-P., Stinson, M. A., Sims, J. E., Schroder, J., Steinmetz, M., Spurr, N. L., Solomon, E., and Goodfellow, P. N.: The chromosomal location of T-cell receptor genes and a T-cell rearranging gene: possible correlation with specific translocations in human T-cell leukaemia. EMBO J 4: 1461–1465, 1985
Shows, T. B. et al.: Guidelines for human gene nomenclature (ISGN, HGM9). Cytogenet Cell Genet 46: 11–28, 1987
Tighe, L., Forster, A., Clark, D., Boylston, A., Lavenir, I., and Rabbitts, T. H.: Unusual forms of T cell γ mRNA in a human T cell leukemia cell line: implications for the γ gene expression. Eur J Immunol 17: 1729–1736, 1987
van Dongen, J. J. M., Wolvers-Tettero, I. L. M., Seidman, J. G., Ang, S. L., van de Griend, R. J., de Vries, E. F. R., and Borst, J.: Two types of gamma T cell receptors expressed by T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemias. Eur J Immunol 17: 1719–1728, 1987
Weiss, A., Newton, M., and Crommie, D.: Expression of T3 in association with a molecule distinct from the T-cell antigen receptor heterodimer. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 83: 6998–7002, 1986
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Buresi, C., Ghanem, N., Huck, S. et al. Exon duplication and triplication in the human T-cell receptor gamma constant region genes and RFLP in French, Lebanese, Tunisian, and Black African populations. Immunogenetics 29, 161–172 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00373641
Received:
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00373641