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V(D)J Recombination pp 133–147Cite as

Molecular Pathways and Mechanisms Regulating the Recombination of Immunoglobulin Genes during B-Lymphocyte Development

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Part of the book series: Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology ((volume 650))

Abstract

The hallmark of B-cell development is the ordered recombination of immunoglobulin (Ig) genes. Recently, considerable progress has been achieved in assembling gene regulatory networks comprised of signaling components and transcription factors that regulate B-cell development. In this chapter we synthesize experimental evidence to explain how such signaling pathways and transcription factors can orchestrate the ordered recombination of immunoglobulin (Ig) genes. Recombination of antigen-receptor loci is regulated both by the developmentally controlled expression of the Rag1 and Rag2 genes and the accessibility of particular loci and their gene segments to recombination. A new framework has emerged that invokes nuclear compartmentalization, large-scale chromatin dynamics and localized changes in chromatin structure in regulating the accessibility of Ig loci at specific stages of B-cell development. We review this emergent framework and discuss new experimental approaches that will be needed to explore the underlying molecular mechanisms.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Molecular Genetics and Cell Biology Howard Hughes Medical Institute, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, 60637, USA

    Kristen Johnson, Karen L. Reddy & Harinder Singh

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  1. Kristen Johnson
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  2. Karen L. Reddy
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  3. Harinder Singh
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Correspondence to Harinder Singh .

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  1. Centre d’Immunologie de Marseille-Luminy, Université d’Aix Marseille, Marseille, France

    Pierre Ferrier MD, PhD

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Johnson, K., Reddy, K.L., Singh, H. (2009). Molecular Pathways and Mechanisms Regulating the Recombination of Immunoglobulin Genes during B-Lymphocyte Development. In: Ferrier, P. (eds) V(D)J Recombination. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, vol 650. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-0296-2_11

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