RAG-1-deficient mice have no mature B and T lymphocytes

P Mombaerts, J Iacomini, RS Johnson, K Herrup… - Cell, 1992 - cell.com
Cell, 1992cell.com
Summary The V (D) J recombination activation gene RAG-1 was isolated on the basis of its
ability to activate V (D) J recombination on an artificial substrate in fibroblasts. This property
and the expression pattern in tissues and cell lines indicate that RAG-1
eitheractivatesorcatalyres the V (D) J recombination reaction of immunoglobulin and T cell
receptor genes. We here describe the introduction of a mutation in RAG-1 into the germline
of mice via gene targeting in embryonic stem cells. RAG-l-deficient mice have small …
Summary
The V (D) J recombination activation gene RAG-1 was isolated on the basis of its ability to activate V (D) J recombination on an artificial substrate in fibroblasts. This property and the expression pattern in tissues and cell lines indicate that RAG-1 eitheractivatesorcatalyres the V (D) J recombination reaction of immunoglobulin and T cell receptor genes. We here describe the introduction of a mutation in RAG-1 into the germline of mice via gene targeting in embryonic stem cells. RAG-l-deficient mice have small lymphoid organs that do not contain mature Band T lymphocytes. The arrest of B and T cell differentiation occurs at an early stage and correlates with the inability to perform V (D) J recombination. The immune system of the RAG-1 mutant mice can be described as that of nonleaky scid mice. Although RAG-1 expression has been reported in the central nervous system of the mouse, no obvious neuroanatomical or behavioral abnormalities have been found in the RAG-l-deficient mice.
cell.com