Abstract
A functional immunoglobulin gene is formed by the fusion of individual coding elements which are widely separated in germ-line DNA. For the mouse κ light chain gene, this is accomplished by DNA rearrangement which brings one of a large repertoire of non-allelic variable region (Vκ) genes into apposition with one of four junctional (Jκ) elements located 2.7–3.9 kilobases (kb) upstream from the κ constant region coding sequence (Cκ)1–4. Transcription is initiated near the 5′ end of the rearranged Vκ locus, and spans all three coding elements and the large intervening sequence between Jκ and Cκ, and a smaller intervening sequence within the Vκ gene5. Little is known of the mechanisms which control the expression of rearranged immunoglobulin genes. We have studied the process of κ light chain gene activation in a mouse leukaemia cell line, 70Z/3, which synthesizes a κ-type light chain protein in response to bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Here we describe changes in the chromatin structure of the κ genes occurring as a result of LPS treatment, and present evidence that a discrete region located inside the large intervening sequence of the κ transcription unit plays a part in κ gene activation.
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Parslow, T., Granner, D. Chromatin changes accompany immunoglobulin κ gene activation: a potential control region within the gene. Nature 299, 449–451 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1038/299449a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/299449a0
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