HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Related articles in The JI Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Bradley, S. P. Articles by Stavnezer, J. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Bradley, S. P. Articles by Stavnezer, J.

The Histone Methyltransferase Suv39h1 Increases Class Switch Recombination Specifically to IgA¹

Sean P. Bradley^2,*, Denise A. Kaminski^*, Antoine H. F. M. Peters^3,, Thomas Jenuwein and Janet Stavnezer^4,*

^* Immunology and Virology Program, Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01655; and Research Institute of Molecular Pathology, Vienna Biocenter, Vienna, Austria

Ab class (isotype) switching allows the humoral immune system to adaptively respond to different infectious organisms. Isotype switching occurs by intrachromosomal DNA recombination between switch (S) region sequences associated with C_H region genes. Although isotype-specific transcription of unrearranged (germline) C_H genes is required for switching, recent results suggest that isotype specificity is also determined by the sequences of downstream (acceptor) S regions. In the current study, we identify the histone methyltransferase Suv39h1 as a novel S-specific factor that specifically increases IgA switching (Sµ-S recombination) in a transiently transfected plasmid S substrate, and demonstrate that this effect requires the histone methyltransferase activity of Suv39h1. Additionally, B cells from Suv39h1-deficient mice have an isotype-specific reduction in IgA switching with no effect on the level of germline I-C transcripts. Taken together, our results suggest that Suv39h1 activity inhibits the activity of a sequence-specific DNA-binding protein that represses switch recombination to IgA.

Related articles in The JI:

IN THIS ISSUE

The JI 2006 177: 767-768. [Full Text]  

This article has been cited by other articles:

				A. A. Zarrin, P. H. Goff, K. Senger, and F. W. Alt S{gamma}3 switch sequences function in place of endogenous S{gamma}1 to mediate antibody class switching J. Exp. Med., July 7, 2008; 205(7): 1567 - 1572. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. A. Kaminski and J. Stavnezer Antibody class switching differs among SJL, C57BL/6 and 129 mice Int. Immunol., April 1, 2007; 19(4): 545 - 556. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]