Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 20, 2026

Combined Immunofluorescence and DNA FISH on 3D-preserved Interphase Nuclei to Study Changes in 3D Nuclear Organization
13:55

Combined Immunofluorescence and DNA FISH on 3D-preserved Interphase Nuclei to Study Changes in 3D Nuclear Organization

Published on: February 3, 2013

Molecular genetics at the T-cell receptor beta locus: insights into the regulation of V(D)J recombination

Marie Bonnet1, Pierre Ferrier, Salvatore Spicuglia

  • 1Centre d'Immunologie de Marseille-Luminy, Université d'Aix Marseille, CNRS, UMR 6102, Inserm, U 631, Marseille, France.

Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology
|September 8, 2009
PubMed

The V(D)J recombination machinery assembles antigen receptor genes from germline V, D and J segments duringlymphocyte development. In alphabetaT cells, this leads to the production of the T-cell receptor (TCR) alpha and beta chains. Notably, V(D)J recombination at the Tcrb locus is tightly controlled at various levels, including cell-type and stage specificities, intralocus ordering and allelic exclusion. Although many of these controls are partly mediated at the level of genomic accessibility to the V(D)J recombinase, recent studies have uncovered novel mechanisms that are also likely to contribute to the developmental regulation of Tcrb gene rearrangement events. In this chapter, we summarize our current knowledge and highlight unanswered questions regarding the regulation of V(D)J recombination at the Tcrb locus, placing emphasis on mouse transgenesis and gene-targeting approaches.

More Related Videos

T and B Cell Receptor Immune Repertoire Analysis using Next-generation Sequencing08:59

T and B Cell Receptor Immune Repertoire Analysis using Next-generation Sequencing

Published on: January 12, 2021

Related Concept Videos

Diversity of Antigen Receptors01:28

Diversity of Antigen Receptors

Antigen receptors are essential components of the immune system crucial in defending the body against foreign invaders. These receptors are present on the surface of B and T cells, enabling them to recognize antigens and mount an appropriate immune response.
Before encountering any antigen, lymphocytes express these receptors. On B cells, the antigen receptor is a membrane-bound antibody molecule called BCR; on T cells, it is a T cell receptor or TCR. B and T cell receptors are composed of two...
T Cell Activation and Clonal Selection01:22

T Cell Activation and Clonal Selection

T cells are integral to our adaptive immune system, recognizing and effectively responding to foreign antigens. T cell activation and clonal selection are pivotal in orchestrating this immune response. This article elucidates these mechanisms, detailing the roles of cluster of differentiation (CD) markers, major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules, costimulatory signals, and the process of clonal selection.
Naive T cells that have not yet encountered an antigen express two primary CD...
Conservative Site-specific Recombination and Phase Variation02:53

Conservative Site-specific Recombination and Phase Variation

Because the DNA segments are cut and reorganized in a direction-specific manner, site-specific recombination has emerged as an efficient genetic engineering technique. Flippase and Cyclization recombinases or Flp and Cre, respectively, are two members of the tyrosine recombinase family derived from bacteriophages, that are used to mediate site-specific DNA insertions, deletions, and targeted expression of proteins in mammalian cell lines.
The recognition sites for Cre recombinase called LoxP...
Exon Recombination02:32

Exon Recombination

The evolution of new genes is critical for speciation. Exon recombination, also known as exon shuffling or domain shuffling, is an important means of new gene formation. It is observed across vertebrates, invertebrates, and in some plants such as potatoes and sunflowers. During exon recombination, exons from the same or different genes recombine and produce new exon-intron combinations, which might evolve into new genes. 
Exon shuffling follows “splice frame rules.” Each exon has three reading...
Gene Conversion02:08

Gene Conversion

Other than maintaining genome stability via DNA repair, homologous recombination plays an important role in diversifying the genome. In fact, the recombination of sequences forms the molecular basis of genomic evolution. Random and non-random permutations of genomic sequences create a library of new amalgamated sequences. These newly formed genomes can determine the fitness and survival of cells. In bacteria, homologous and non-homologous types of recombination lead to the evolution of new...
Receptor Downregulation in MVBs01:15

Receptor Downregulation in MVBs

Multivesicular bodies (MVBs) are mature endosomes that sort ubiquitinated proteins and then fuse with lysosomes to degrade the sorted proteins. Epidermal growth factor (EGF) and its receptor (EGFR) form a complex that can be internalized through endocytosis, sorted into an MVB, and later degraded.
The EGFR can initiate signaling pathways that  lead to cell proliferation, migration, and differentiation. Overexpression of EGFR  stimulates cells to proliferate. Excessive  EGFR activation may...