Chromosomal Locations of the Murine T-Cell Receptor Alpha-Chain Gene and the T-Cell Gamma Gene

Abstract

Two independent methods were used to identify the mouse chromosomes on which are located two families of immunoglobulin (Ig)-like genes that are rearranged and expressed in T lymphocytes. The genes coding for the alpha subunit of T-cell receptors are on chromosome 14 and the gamma genes, whose function is yet to be determined, are on chromosome 13. Since genes for the T-cell receptor beta chain were previously shown to be on mouse chromosome 6, all three of the Ig-like multigene families expressed and rearranged in T cells are located on different chromosomes, just as are the B-cell multigene families for the Ig heavy chain, and the Ig kappa and lambda light chains. The findings do not support earlier contentions that genes for T-cell receptors are linked to the Ig heavy chain locus (mouse chromosome 12) or to the major histocompatibility complex (mouse chromosome 17).

Murine thymomas induced by fractionated-X-irradiation have specific T-cell receptor rearrangements and characteristics associated with day-15 to -16 fetal thymocytes.

“…By contrast, all of the FXI-induced tumors examined lacked the 11-kb fragment (indicated by the top arrow). These results have some similarity with those of Kranz et al (21), who demonstrated an 11-to 16-kb rearrangement when analyzing CTL clones with a y-chain probe. However, it is unclear from our analysis that the missing 11-kb fragment resulted in the 16-kb fragment made by fusion of the V and C regions are observed by Kranz et al (21).…”

“…These results have some similarity with those of Kranz et al (21), who demonstrated an 11-to 16-kb rearrangement when analyzing CTL clones with a y-chain probe. However, it is unclear from our analysis that the missing 11-kb fragment resulted in the 16-kb fragment made by fusion of the V and C regions are observed by Kranz et al (21). In accordance with their findings, an additional rearrangement was noted, represented by the appearance of a 4.5-kb fragment (Fig.…”

“…By contrast, in our hands, all of the FXI-induced tumors examined by EcoRI digestion lacked the 11-kb fragment. While these results have some similarity with those of Kranz et al (21), who demonstrated an 11-to 16-kb rearrangement when analyzing CTL clones with a fy-chain probe, our analysis provides no evidence that the 11-kb fragment that is missing has resulted in a 16-kb fragment made by fusion of V and C regions from the VA in the 10.8-kb fragment joining to the J-C -yl cluster located in the 10.5-kb fragment (47). In addition, some FXI-induced thymomas have a novel 4.5-kb fragment.…”

“…These probes were derived from cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) clones (8/10-2, a Kb_[N-iodoacetyI-N(5-suIf6nic-1-napthylyl)ethylene diamine]-specific clone, and 2C, an alloreactive [anti-Ld] CTL clone). Probe 8/10-2-y1.1 was derived from the former clone, and probes pHDS203 and pHSD4 were from the latter clone (17,21,32,33). pHDS203 contains the 5' untranslated region, V, J, and portions of the C region represented by the pHDS4/203 protein; pHDS4 encodes only a small portion of the V region, the J the C regions, and the 3' untranslated region.…”

Localization of a lymphocyte-specific protein tyrosine kinase gene (lck) at a site of frequent chromosomal abnormalities in human lymphomas.

“…Chromosome Hybridization. Metaphase chromosome spreads from a murine myeloid cell line (CAK) or from normal human male peripheral blood lymphocytes stimulated with phytohemagglutinin were prepared as described (14). Hybridization of the lck probe to mitotic chromosomes was performed by a modification of the method of Harper and Saunders (15).…”