A joining–diversity–joining complex generated by inversion mechanism and a variable–diversity complex in the β–chain gene of the human Tcell receptor

摘要

We have analysed an inactive allele of the β–chain gene of the T–cell receptor in a human T–cell line HPB–ALL. Comparison with germline sequences showed that HPB–ALL has a joining (J)–diversity (D)–J complex recombined in head–to–head configuration and a variable (V)–D complex in tail–to–tail configuration. These results demonstrate that the inversion mechanism functions in the β–chaln gene of the T–cell receptor. The presence of the V–D complex suggests that V–D recombination could occur prior to D–J recombination although there is no definite proof that the V–D complex is an intermediate to form the V–D–J complex.