Cell cycle regulation of V(D)J recombination-activating protein RAG-2

Weei Chin Lin, Stephen Desiderio

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

154 Scopus citations

Abstract

The antigen receptors of B and T lymphocytes are encoded in multiple germ- line DNA segments that are joined during lymphocyte development. The recombination-activating proteins RAG-1 and RAG-2 are both essential for this process, termed V(D)J rearrangement. Phosphorylation of the RAG-2 protein at Thr-490 by one or more cyclin-dependent kinases is associated with its rapid degradation. In an immature B-cell line and in normal thymocytes, RAG-2 protein accumulates preferentially in the G0/G1 phases of the cell cycle and declines by at least 20-fold before cells enter S phase. The amount of RAG-2 protein remains low throughout the S, G2, and M phases. The amount of RAG-1 protein shows considerably less fluctuation. The variation in RAG-2 protein is likely to be established, at least in part, by a posttranscriptional mechanism. These observations suggest that V(D)J rearrangement occurs entirely or preferentially within G0/G1.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)2733-2737
Number of pages5
JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Volume91
Issue number7
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 29 1994

Keywords

  • antigen receptor gene rearrangement
  • recombination activating proteins

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General

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