Efficient immune responses in mice lacking N-region diversity.

Journal article

Mice with a null mutation in the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT) gene harbor immunoglobulin and T cell receptor repertoires essentially devoid of N-region diversity. Consequently, the CDR3 loops important for antigen recognition are shorter and considerably less diverse than those of wild-type controls. We find surprisingly normal immune responses in TdT0 mice, as regards both efficiency and specificity. This provokes a reconsideration of the assumption that N-region diversity is required for an effective T and B cell repertoire.

Authors: Gilfillan, S; Bachmann, M; Trembleau, S; Adorini, L; Kalinke, U

• Publication status: Published
• Journal: European journal of immunology
• Volume: 25
• Issue: 11
• Pages: 3115-3122
• Publication date: 1995-11-01
• DOI: 10.1002/eji.1830251119
• EISSN: 1521-4141
• ISSN: 0014-2980
• Language: English
• Keywords: Polymorphism, Genetic; Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus; Mice; Amino Acid Sequence; Vesicular stomatitis Indiana virus; DNA Nucleotidylexotransferase; Molecular Sequence Data; Immunoglobulins; Epitopes; Mice, Mutant Strains; Neutralization Tests; Animals; Base Sequence; Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell