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Germline Transcription: A Key Regulator of Accessibility and Recombination

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V(D)J Recombination

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

Abstract

The developmental control of V(D)J recombination is imposed at the level of chromatin accessibility of recombination signal sequences (RSSs) to the recombinase machinery. Cis-acting transcriptional regulatory elements such as promoters and enhancers play a central role in the control of accessibility in vivo. However, the molecular mechanisms by which these elements influence accessibility are still under investigation. Although accessibility for V(D)J recombination is usually accompanied by germline transcription at antigen receptor loci, the functional significance of this transcription in directing RSS accessibility has been elusive. In this chapter, we review past studies outlining the complex relationship between V(D)J recombination and transcription as well as our current understanding on how chromatin structure is regulated during gene expression. We then summarize recent work that directly addresses the functional role of transcription in V(D)J recombination.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Epigenetics, Biotech Research and Innovation Centre, Copenhagen, Denmark

    Iratxe Abarrategui

  2. Department of Immunology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, 27710, USA

    Michael S. Krangel

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  1. Iratxe Abarrategui
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  2. Michael S. Krangel
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Correspondence to Michael S. Krangel .

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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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Abarrategui, I., Krangel, M.S. (2009). Germline Transcription: A Key Regulator of Accessibility and Recombination. 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_8

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