Organization, sequence, and function of 34.5 kb of genomic DNA encompassing several murine T-cell receptor alpha/delta variable gene segments

Abstract

A cosmid-bearing murine genomic DNA, encompassing several T-cell receptor variable alpha/delta gene segments, has been sequenced using shotgun DNA cloning methodology coupled with fluorescence-based high-through-put DNA sequencing technology. This region, spanning 34.5 kb, contains a pseudogene V alpha gene segment (psi V alpha 16.1), a V delta gene segment (V delta 2), and a variable gene segment that has been reported to be expressed with both C alpha (V alpha 6) and C delta (V delta 3). Therefore, this cosmid is the ideal vehicle for examining the possible control sequences that may be involved in determining whether a V gene segment associates with either C alpha or C delta. Polymerase chain reaction experiments demonstrate that the two functional variable gene segments (V delta and V alpha/delta) are expressed individually with both C alpha and C delta genes as mRNA, indicating a permissiveness in their expression patterns. In addition, a variety of genomic sequence-related features have been identified.