Abstract
Immunoglobulin (Ig) loci are selectively activated for transcription and rearrangement during B lymphocyte development. Using fluorescence in situ hybridization, we show that Ig heavy (H) and Igkappa loci are preferentially positioned at the nuclear periphery in hematopoietic progenitors and pro-T cells but are centrally configured in pro-B nuclei. The inactive loci at the periphery do not associate with centromeric heterochromatin. Upon localization away from the nuclear periphery in pro-B cells, the IgH locus appears to undergo large-scale compaction. We suggest that subnuclear positioning represents a novel means of regulating transcription and recombination of IgH and Igkappa loci during lymphocyte development.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
MeSH terms
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Animals
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B-Lymphocytes / immunology
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B-Lymphocytes / physiology*
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Cell Line, Transformed
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Cell Nucleus / genetics*
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Cell Nucleus / ultrastructure
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Centromere / chemistry
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Centromere / genetics
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Gene Rearrangement
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Genes, Immunoglobulin*
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Hematopoietic Stem Cells / physiology*
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Heterochromatin / metabolism
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Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains / genetics
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Immunoglobulin Light Chains / genetics
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Immunoglobulin Variable Region / genetics
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Immunoglobulin kappa-Chains / genetics
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Immunoglobulin lambda-Chains / genetics
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In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence
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Leukopoiesis*
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Mice
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Nuclear Envelope / genetics
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Recombination, Genetic
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T-Lymphocytes / immunology
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T-Lymphocytes / physiology*
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Transcription, Genetic
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Tumor Cells, Cultured
Substances
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Heterochromatin
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Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains
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Immunoglobulin Light Chains
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Immunoglobulin Variable Region
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Immunoglobulin kappa-Chains
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Immunoglobulin lambda-Chains