Molecular Analysis of DNA Rearrangements in the Immune System

V(D)J recombination and heavy chain gene class switching constitute two major DNA recombination processes, complemented by somatic hypermutation, which generate the antigen receptor repertoire of the immune system. This volume offers an overview of these processes.

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V(D)J recombination and heavy chain gene class switching constitute two major DNA recombination processes, complemented by somatic hypermutation, which generate the antigen receptor repertoire of the immune system. This volume offers an overview of these processes. The advances in these areas include the identification of several individual proteins acting at the initial steps in V(D)J recombination, and detailed insights into the formation and structure of recombination intermediates. The book also includes a description of the third mechanism for increasing the antigen receptor diversity somatic hypermutation which has attracted renewed sttention.