New insights emerge as antibody repertoire diversification meets chromosome conformation

Vast repertoires of unique antigen receptors are created in developing lymphocytes. The antigen receptor loci contain many variable (V), diversity (D), and joining (J) gene segments that are arrayed across very large genomic expanses and are joined to form variable-region exons. This process creates the potential for an organism to respond to large numbers of different pathogens. Here, we consider the underlying molecular mechanisms that favor some V genes for recombination prior to selection of the final antigen receptor repertoire. We discuss chromatin structures that form in antigen receptor loci to permit spatial proximity among the V, D, and J gene segments and how these relate to the generation of antigen receptor diversity.