TY - JOUR
T1 - Computational tools for understanding sequence variability in recombination signals
AU - Cowell, Lindsay G.
AU - Davila, Marco
AU - Ramsden, Dale
AU - Kelsoe, Garnett
PY - 2004/8
Y1 - 2004/8
N2 - The recombination signals (RSs) that guide V(D)J rearrangement are remarkably diverse. In mice, fewer than 16% of RSs carry consensus heptamers and nonamers and none also contain a consensus spacer sequence. It is increasingly clear that this variability regulates recombination: genetic variability in RSs may help enforce allelic exclusion, determine the general nature of antigen receptor repertoires, and mitigate autoreactivity in B lymphocytes. The great diversity of RSs has largely precluded, however, empiric determinations of how RS sequence affects recombination. For example, 439 unique 23-RSs are possible or approximately 3 × 1023 sequences; some 7 × 1013 unique 23-RSs can be produced just by changes in the spacer. In contrast, the recombination activities of only 100 or so RSs have been measured, and it is unlikely that the activities of even a tiny fraction of extant RSs can be determined. We have addressed the problem of how sequence determines the efficiency of RS templates by generating computational models that describe the correlation structure of mouse RSs. These models successfully predict RS activity and identify functional, cryptic RSs (cRSs). These models permit studies to identify RSs and cRSs for empiric study and constitute a tool useful for understanding RS structure and function.
AB - The recombination signals (RSs) that guide V(D)J rearrangement are remarkably diverse. In mice, fewer than 16% of RSs carry consensus heptamers and nonamers and none also contain a consensus spacer sequence. It is increasingly clear that this variability regulates recombination: genetic variability in RSs may help enforce allelic exclusion, determine the general nature of antigen receptor repertoires, and mitigate autoreactivity in B lymphocytes. The great diversity of RSs has largely precluded, however, empiric determinations of how RS sequence affects recombination. For example, 439 unique 23-RSs are possible or approximately 3 × 1023 sequences; some 7 × 1013 unique 23-RSs can be produced just by changes in the spacer. In contrast, the recombination activities of only 100 or so RSs have been measured, and it is unlikely that the activities of even a tiny fraction of extant RSs can be determined. We have addressed the problem of how sequence determines the efficiency of RS templates by generating computational models that describe the correlation structure of mouse RSs. These models successfully predict RS activity and identify functional, cryptic RSs (cRSs). These models permit studies to identify RSs and cRSs for empiric study and constitute a tool useful for understanding RS structure and function.
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U2 - 10.1111/j.0105-2896.2004.00171.x
DO - 10.1111/j.0105-2896.2004.00171.x
M3 - Review article
C2 - 15242396
AN - SCOPUS:3242877717
SN - 0105-2896
VL - 200
SP - 57
EP - 69
JO - Immunological Reviews
JF - Immunological Reviews
ER -