[80] Protein–DNA selleck products cross-linking studies have suggested that cRAG1/cRAG2 may form specific contacts with the heptamer of RSS.[81, 82] In addition, binding assays have shown that cRAG1, even in the absence of RAG2, could bind to RSS in a manner that was specific to both heptamer and nonamer.[38, 82] RAG1 and RAG2 can interact and exist as a complex.[83] Modification interference and direct footprinting studies indicated that RAG1 alone could make extensive contacts with the nonamer,

whereas RAG2 is needed for the heptamer occupancy.[81] Direct interaction between RAG2 and DNA in the RAG1/RAG2/RSS complex has also been reported.[77] Fluorescence anisotropy and gel mobility shift assays indicate that RAG1 exhibits sequence specific binding character. It has been suggested that this property is masked by its non-specific DNA interactions and addition of RAG2 effectively rescues RAG1 from this non-specific binding.[84] Using chromatin immunoprecipitation, it was shown that in vivo RAG binding was focused at the ‘recombination centres’ involving a small region encompassing J (and where present, J-proximal D) subexons

in the IgH, IgK, TCRB and TCRA loci.[85, 86] The study showed that RAG2 binds throughout the genome at sites with substantial levels of H3K4me3. RAG1 binding was shown to be restricted to highly active chromatin in the presence of arrays of RSSs.[85, 86] Expression of RAG in early B cells occurs in two waves, the former is responsible for V(D)J rearrangement of IgH genes in pro-B and pre-B-I cells and the latter for Selleckchem 5-Fluoracil VJ recombination of the IgL genes

in small pre-B-II cells.[87] There are also reports of a third wave of RAG expression, induced in activated mature B cells in vitro and in vivo.[88] Spleen B cells from mice activated with lipopolysaccharide Tangeritin or interleukin-4 showed expression of RAGs.[88] Mice immunized with the antigen trinitrophenyl-keyhole limpet haemocyanin also showed expression of RAG1 and RAG2 in the inguinal and popliteal cells of draining lymph nodes.[88] In addition, immature B cells carrying self-reactive receptors exhibited up-regulated RAG expression. Following B-cell antigen receptor cross-linking, an increased level of RAG mRNA was reported in cultures of developing B cells.[89, 90] The sustained RAG expression allowed secondary V(D)J recombination that involves the replacement of self-reactive antibody V region genes by the V(D)J recombination. During this process, B cells with a non-self-reactive receptor are allowed to exit from prolonged V(D)J recombination, whereas the self-reactive cells are retained for further editing, until they produce a non-self-reactive receptor.[91] ‘Receptor editing’ refers to the secondary rearrangement that occurs in immature B and T cells, which plays a role in mediating tolerance.