The lingering enigma of the allelic exclusion mechanism

Cell. 2004 Sep 3;118(5):539-44. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2004.08.023.

Abstract

B lymphocytes produce diverse antibody specificities by "randomly" assembling antibody genes from germline segments. Yet, though each B lymphocyte has multiple allelic loci for the different antibody chains, each clonally derived mature B lymphocyte expresses a single species of antibody with a unique specificity via a process termed allelic exclusion. Despite some progress, the precise mechanism of allelic exclusion remains an enigma.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Alleles*
  • Animals
  • Antibodies / genetics
  • Antibodies / immunology*
  • Antibody Specificity / genetics*
  • Antibody Specificity / immunology*
  • B-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • Gene Expression Regulation / genetics
  • Genes, Regulator / genetics
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains / biosynthesis
  • Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains / genetics
  • Immunoglobulin Light Chains / biosynthesis
  • Immunoglobulin Light Chains / genetics

Substances

  • Antibodies
  • Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains
  • Immunoglobulin Light Chains