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Hypothesis: Biological role for J‐C intronic matrix attachment regions in the molecular mechanism of antigen‐driven somatic hypermutation
Author(s) -
Franklin Andrew,
Blanden Robert V
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
immunology and cell biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.999
H-Index - 104
eISSN - 1440-1711
pISSN - 0818-9641
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-1711.2005.01327.x
Subject(s) - somatic hypermutation , biology , somatic cell , genetics , intron , mechanism (biology) , dna , computational biology , evolutionary biology , antibody , gene , physics , quantum mechanics , b cell
A major function of J‐C intronic matrix attachment regions (MAR) during immune diversification via somatic hypermutation (SHM) at immunoglobulin loci may be to manipulate the topology of DNA within the upstream target domain. The suggestion that SHM induction requires MAR‐induced torsional strain, in conjunction with DNA remodelling at the J‐C intron, completes the definition of a cogent paradigm within which all extant molecular data on the issue may be interpreted. Moreover, the suggestion that a mutagenic mechanism relieves MAR‐generated superhelicity could provide an indication as to the evolutionary basis of SHM.