Generation of diversity in mammalian gut-associated lymphoid tissues: restricted V gene usage does not preclude complex V gene organization
Reynaud, C.A.; Dufour, V.; Weill, J.C.
Journal of Immunology 159(7): 3093-3095
1997
ISSN/ISBN: 0022-1767 PMID: 9317102 Document Number: 483206
This minireview summarizes work mainly from the authors' laboratory. The sheep genome contains 60-90 V lambda genes distributed in least 6 different families, whereas 37 V lambda genes and 10 families exist in humans. Comparison with human V lambda genes display less overall sequence divergence, but are closer to the genes most frequently used in the human peripheral repertoire. In both species, 2 or 3 genes contribute half of the expressed sequences. Therefore, similar large combinational potential and restriction of the expressed repertoire can exist in 2 species whose strategy of diversification differs widely (rearrangement continuing throughout life in human bone marrow vs. postrearrangement diversification during early development in sheep ileal Peyer's patches).