Generation of Lymphocyte Antigen Receptors

These flashcards cover key concepts related to the generation of lymphocyte antigen receptors.

Antibody Diversity Problem

The challenge of generating 10^16 different antibodies despite having only 23,000 genes.

Combinatorial Diversity

Diversity achieved through heavy/light chain pairing and V(D)J recombination.

V(D)J Recombination

A process in which gene segments are rearranged to create a diverse array of antigen receptors.

Heavy/Light Chain Pairing

The combination of heavy and light chains that forms an antibody.

Junctional Diversity

Diversity created at the junctions of V, D, and J segments during recombination.

P Nucleotides

Nucleotides added during V(D)J recombination that contribute to junctional diversity.

N Nucleotides

Nucleotides added to the ends of coding segments during V(D)J recombination to increase diversity.

Somatic Recombination

The rearrangement of receptor genes in somatic cells to create diverse antigen receptors.

Recombination Signal Sequences (RSS)

Specific DNA sequences that flank each gene segment and guide the recombination process.

12-23 Rule

Rule stating that recombination occurs between RSS with either a 12-base pair spacer or a 23-base pair spacer.

Severe Combined Immunodeficiency Syndrome (SCID)

A condition caused by the failure of V(D)J recombination resulting in non-production of T cells and B cells.

RAG1 and RAG2

Proteins that play a critical role in the recognition and recombination of RSS during V(D)J recombination.

Burkitt's Lymphoma

A type of cancer arising from a chromosomal translocation that affects immunoglobulin gene segments.

Adaptive Immunity

The immune response that is characterized by specificity, diversity, and memory.

Innate Immunity

The immune response that is immediate and non-specific.

Hairpin Formation

The structure formed at the coding ends during V(D)J recombination.

Coding Joint

The end product of V(D)J recombination that joins V and J segments.

Ku70:Ku80

Proteins that bind DNA ends during the DNA repair process following V(D)J recombination.

Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT)

An enzyme that adds nucleotides to the ends of DNA during V(D)J recombination.

Coding End

The region of DNA that is held together after V(D)J recombination is completed.

Signal Joint

The by-products of the V(D)J recombination process that are excised from the DNA.