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Diversity and structure of human T-cell receptor. cap alpha. -chain variable region genes

Journal Article · · Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.; (United States)
The nucleotide sequences of 27 T-cell receptor ..cap alpha..-chain variable region (V/sub ..cap alpha../)-containing cDNA clones isolated from a cDNA library derived from human peripheral blood lymphocytes were determined. Eighteen different V/sub ..cap alpha../ and 26 different joining (J/sub ..cap alpha../) gene segments are utilized in these clones. The V/sub ..cap alpha../ gene segments belong to 12 different subfamilies, each containing from one to seven members. Comparisons with the 16 different V/sub ..cap alpha../ and 21 different J..cap alpha.. sequences previously reported suggest that the germ-line repertoires for these gene segments are greater than previously estimated. Flexibility in the sites of gene segment joining and possibly N-region diversification also contribute to human ..cap alpha..-chain diversity. Comparisons of human V/sub ..cap alpha../ regions indicate a high degree of variability spread uniformly across the entire V/sub ..cap alpha../ region without obvious hypervariable regions. However, amino acids important for the maintenance of V gene structure are conserved.
Research Organization:
California Institute of Technology, Pasadena (USA)
OSTI ID:
7143444
Journal Information:
Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.; (United States), Journal Name: Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.; (United States) Vol. 84:19; ISSN PNASA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English