BC - Immunogenics 11/16/15

1. Compare & contrast the order of events that generates an

immunoglobulin (Ig) heavy chain verses an Ig light chain.
The light-chain loci contain ~30 V regions (each preceded by a
leader (L) sequence & a promoter), & 4 J-C (joining-constant)
modules.
The light-chain loci contain ~40 V modules, 5 J modules & a
constant region.
The heavy-chain loci contain ~40-65 V modules, 25-27 D (diversity)

1. The BCR is membrane bound IgM: composed of 2 HC & 2 LC.

2. Explain the 12/23 rule
& determine which gene segments will recombine.
12/23 rule
A RSS heptamer/nonamer w/ a 12 bp
spacer will only recombine w/ a RSS
heptamer/nonamer w/ a 23 bp spacer.
2. The ABS is composed of AA in the hypervariable regions (HVR) of a LC & the HVR of a HC.
3. Many different kinds of Ab(diversity) are produced by
a. recombination: V, D, & J
b. addition & subtraction of NTs at the junctions of V-D, D-J by TdT & exonuclease
c. mutations that have accumulated over time
d. somatic hypermutation of the V-D-J or V-J regions.
4. Every B cell expresses only 1 rearranged HC gene @ 1 rearranged LC gene (& thus only 1 ABS). The other
unused HC & LC genes are turned off: allelic exclusion.
5. Recombination of V, D, & J regions obey the 12/23 rule.
6. Once a B cell encounters an Ag that binds to BCR, the following events occur
a. Soluble IgM produced
b. Class switching occurs where the IgM HC constant region is exchanged for another HC constant region to
produce IgGs, IgAs, & IgEs.
c. Affinity maturation occurs by turning on AID: causes VDJ & VJ regions to undergo somatic hypermutation.
The mutations that increase affinity of Ab for Ag survive.
7. T cells do not have HC & LC/proteins but rather have alpha & beta chains/proteins: compose TCR.
8. Recombination events that produce TCR are similar to production of BCR. The chain gene (contains D regions)
rearranges before the chain gene (contains only V & J regions).

3 recombination events to make an Ab

2 LC
1 HC

1. Rearrangements only occur b/w segments on the same chromosome.

2. Heptamer must pair with a complementary heptamer (nonamers
also).
3. One of the RSSs must have a spacer w/ 12 bp & the other
must be 23 bp.

3. Explain what a productive rearrangement is & how many

chances the heavy chain loci, lambda light chain loci, & kappa
light chain loci have to rearrange.
***8 recombination events for kappa 1st
***10 recombination events for Lambda.
***18 recombination events possible at
each loci
4. Explain what the
function of RAG proteins
in the joining together
of the various gene
segment.
***In order to change the function of the molecule but keep the
specificity, one needs to conserve the light chain & heavy chain
variable regions & replace the heavy chain constant region.
Class Switching: switch sequences are repeated ~150 times. In the
introns (switch regions) upstream of all C regions, except for C.
5 Recombination events in HC.
Determined by cytokine that stimulates B cell:
Somatic Hypermutation: introduces base changes in the Ab V
region = stronger binding.

RAG-1 & RAG-2

Severe combined
Immune deficiency
(SCID): lack one of
the RAG genes or
DNA-PK.

5. Explain what junctional diversity is in relation to combinatorial diversity

& how terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT) and exonuclease are
involved with creating junctional diversity.
NTs can be removed from, or added to, the coding sequences.
P & N nucleotides (additions)
Junctional diversity(in HVR3)
**TdT adds random NTs, not as active as the exonuclease.
BC - Immunogenics 11/16/15
Only 1 of the 2 heavy chain alleles in any give cell is expressed.
***Provides that there is 1 specificity per B cell.
Only demethylated alleles rearrange.

Switch from membrane bound IgM to soluble IgM

IgM transcript has two poly A sites.
If the 2nd (stronger) poly A site is used, the IgM is membrane
bound.
If the 1st (weaker) poly A site is used, the IgM is soluble.
Once Ag is encountered, induces alternative splicing: mRNA & switch
from using the second poly A site to the first poly A site by the
upregulation of a polyA factor, Cst-F (more Cst-F is needed to recognize
7. Explain what somatic hypermutations are, the purpose of them, & B cell &
T cell molecules that are involved w/ this process.
8. Explain what isotype switching is & how it is accomplished.
9. Identify the kind of disease that a person develops if he/she does not
have a functional RAG, AID, CD40 or CD40L.

6. Explain what allelic exclusion & how a B cell accomplishes this

phenomenon.

IL-4 & CD40 signal lead to AID (activation-induced cytidine

deaminase)
TX -> hypermutation. Replacing NH2 w/ O converts C -> U in
variable reg. LC & HC.
AID Def:Auto. Ress. Hyper-IgM Syn.
-B cell defect. No class switching in T cells.
-Elevated Levels: IgM
-Lack: IgG, IgA & Somatic Hypermutation.
-Recurrent bacterial infections.
**If T & B cells interact normally, it is not CD40 -> AID