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The dynamic TCRδ: TCRδ chains in the amphibian Xenopus tropicalis utilize antibody‐like V genes
Author(s) -
Parra Zuly E.,
Ohta Yuko,
Criscitiello Michael F.,
Flajnik Martin F.,
Miller Robert D.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
european journal of immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.272
H-Index - 201
eISSN - 1521-4141
pISSN - 0014-2980
DOI - 10.1002/eji.201040515
Subject(s) - biology , t cell receptor , xenopus , amphibian , gene , microbiology and biotechnology , genetics , computational biology , t cell , ecology , immune system
Abstract The content and organization of the Xenopus tropicalis TCR α / δ locus was determined. This locus is highly conserved among tetrapods, with the genes encoding the TCRδ chains embedded with those encoding TCRα. However, the frog TCRα/ δ is unusual in that it contains V genes that appear indistinguishable from those in the IgH locus (VH). These V genes, termed VHδ, make up 70% of the V genes at the TCRδ locus and are expressed exclusively in TCRδ chains. Finding TCRδ chains that use antibody‐like V domains in frogs is similar to the situation in shark TCRδ variants and TCRμ in marsupials. These results suggest that such unconventional TCR may be more widespread across vertebrate lineages than originally thought and raise the possibility of previously unrealized subsets of T cells. We also revealed close linkage of TCRα/ δ, IgH , and Ig λ in Xenopus which, in combination with linkage analyses in other species, is consistent with the previous models for the emergence of these antigen receptor loci.