A hallmark of active class switch recombination: transcripts directed by I promoters on looped-out circular DNAs

To specify when and where Ig class switch recombination (CSR) takes place, a good molecular marker closely associated with active CSR is required. CSR is accompanied by deletion of circular DNA from the Ig heavy chain locus. The circular DNA contains a DNA segment between Smu and a target S region including its I promoter, which is driven by specific cytokine stimulation before CSR. We found that the specific I promoter is still active in looped-out circular DNA and directs production of I-Cmu transcripts termed "circle transcripts." Reverse transcription-PCR demonstrated transient induction of specific circle transcripts upon CSR in a murine lymphoma cell line, CH12F3-2A, as well as spleen B cells. Production of the circle transcripts appeared to depend on expression of activation-induced cytidine deaminase (AID), an essential factor for CSR. A comparison of kinetics between circle transcripts and circular DNA showed more rapid disappearance of circle transcripts. Thus, circle transcripts may serve as a hallmark for active CSR in vitro and in vivo.