The ontogenetic and evolutionary origins of antibody diversity : (antibody diversity, ontogeny, evolution, transposable elements)

Abstract

Three ontogenetic origins of antibody diversity have been identified. First, there is a large number of germline gene segments. Second, multiple combinatorial strategies are used to amplify antibody diversity. These include combinatorial association of heavy and light chains, and heavy chain class switching. Third, somatic alterations include junctional diversity and somatic hypermutation. Finally, we present a new model for the evolutionary origin of V gene formation. This model postulates that the heavy chain family is the first to appear, from which are derived the light chain families. The model readity explains the location of the conserved sequences believed to be used as recognition sites in V gene formation.