Cell
Volume 45, Issue 2, 25 April 1986, Pages 237-246
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Article
Diversity and rearrangement of the human T cell rearranging γ genes: Nine germ-line variable genes belonging to two subgroups

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Abstract

We describe nine T cell γ variable (V) gene segments isolated from human DNA. These genes, which fall into two subgroups, are mapped in two DNA regions covering 54 kb and probably represent the majority of human Vγ genes. One subgroup (VγI) contains eight genes, consisting of four active genes and four pseudogenes. The single VγII gene is potentially active. Sequence analysis of the VγI genes shows variation clustered in hypervariable regions, but somatic variability is restricted to N-region diversity. Studies on rearrangement in T cell lines and in thymic DNA show that major rearrangements can be observed that are attributable to the five active Vγ genes. In addition, human cells with the phenotype of helper T cells can undergo productive Vγ-Jγ joining.

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    Permanent address: Laboratoire d'Immunogenetique, Université des Sciences et Techniques du Languedoc, Place E. Bataillon, 34060 Montpellier, Cedex, France.

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