A cluster of chromosome 11p13 translocations found via distinct D-D and D-D-J rearrangements of the human T cell receptor delta chain gene.

Human T cell tumours have few consistently occurring translocations which provide markers for this disease. The translocation t(11;14)(p13;q11), however, seems to be an exception, since it has been repeatedly observed in T-ALL. We have analysed a number of T-ALL samples carrying the t(11;14) with a view to assessing the nature of the translocated sequences on chromosomes 11 and 14. Three of the tumours studied have breakpoints, at 14q11, within the T cell receptor delta chain locus, while a fourth appears to break in the J alpha region. The TCR delta sequences involved in the translocation junctions are made from D delta-D delta-J delta joins or from D delta-D delta joins, allowing us to define distinct human D delta and J delta segments. These results allow us to make a comparison between the human and mouse TCR delta loci, both as regards sequence and rearrangement hierarchies. The disparate translocation breakpoints at chromosome 14q11 contrast with the marked clustering of breaks at chromosome 11p13; in all four cases, the breakpoint occurs within a region of less than 0.8 kb of chromosome 11. The analysis of junctional sequences at the 11p13 breakpoint cluster region only shows a consensus heptamer-like sequence in one out of four tumours analysed. Therefore, recombinase-mediated sequence specific recognition is not the only cause of chromosomal translocation.     

The chromosomal location of T-cell receptor genes and a T cell rearranging gene: possible correlation with specific translocations in human T cell leukaemia.

We have examined the chromosomal location of human T cell-specific genes which are involved in antigen recognition and of a gene which specifically rearranges in T cells. The genes encoding both the variable and constant region segments of the T cell receptor alpha chain are found on chromosome 14 while the delta chain gene of the T cell receptor-associated T3 complex is localised to chromosome 11. Further, the two tandemly arranged T cell-specific rearranging genes, designated gamma, were mapped to chromosome 7, but apparently not closely linked to the previously mapped T cell receptor beta-chain gene. The locations of the three different genes, which undergo rearrangement in T cells, may correlate with the chromosomal breakpoints known to be involved in translocations within abnormal human T cells.     

The human T cell receptor genes are targets for chromosomal abnormalities in T cell tumors

T cells express either of the two forms of antigen-specific receptors, the alpha/beta and gamma/delta heterodimers. Their structure closely resembles that of immunoglobulins, and the variable part of the receptor molecule is created by somatic assembly of variable, diversity, and joining regions. The genetic structure of T cell receptor (TCR) genes and their rearrangement in T cell development have been elucidated in great detail in recent years. The human genes for the gamma and beta subunits are located on the short and long arms of chromosome 7, respectively, whereas the delta- and alpha-chain genes are located in tandem on the centromeric half of the long arm of chromosome 14. Expression of either alpha/beta or gamma/delta TCR complexes on T cells in the developing thymus is likely to proceed in an ordered fashion and results in the appearance of distinct T cell subpopulations. The process of DNA rearrangements required for the generation of functional variable region genes also predisposes lymphoid cells to aberrant DNA rearrangements, which can be detected as chromosomal abnormalities such as translocations and inversions. Molecular analysis of such aberrant rearrangements has shown that rearranging loci are fused to loci unrelated to antigen receptor genes. Furthermore, the breakpoint structures represent nonproductive intermediates in the hierarchy of physiological rearrangements. Accordingly, T cell tumors arising early in T cell development often carry chromosomal abnormalities involving the delta-chain locus, whereas tumors generated later in T cell development tend to show aberrations in the alpha-chain gene. This pattern seems to reflect the stage-specific accessibility of TCR loci for rearrangement by the recombinase machinery. This enzyme is guided by specific recombination signals that can sometimes also be found at the site of breakage on the participating locus in chromosomal abnormalities. Although some features of the mechanism of aberrant rearrangements are known, their biological consequences are less well understood. However, molecular analysis of the mechanism of chromosomal aberrations in T cell tumors suggests that their biological consequences may vary. Firm evidence for the pathogenic significance is missing for most of these lesions. This provides a challenge to molecular immunology to determine how chromosomal abnormalities are involved in tumor pathogenesis.     

An unusual structure of a putative T cell oncogene which allows production of similar proteins from distinct mRNAs.

We previously identified a putative T cell oncogene on chromosome 11 near a translocation t(11;14)(p15;q11) in a human T cell tumour. The gene is transcribed from distinct promoters which have unrelated sequences, which occur within close but distinct methylation-free islands and which allow cell specific production of mRNA. The alternative first exons each contain a protein initiation codon from which two species of protein can be made, differing by only a single amino acid. The protein sequence is highly conserved between man and mouse (98%) and the same single codon difference between alternative first exons is also conserved. This is, therefore, a new form of eukaryotic gene organization from which similar proteins can be made from distinct mRNA species.     

Molecular cloning of putative odorant-binding and odorant-metabolizing proteins

Olfactory reception occurs via the interaction of odorants with the chemosensory cilia of the olfactory receptor cells located in the nasal epithelium. The cDNA clones from mRNA specific to olfactory mucosa were studied. One of these clones, OBPII, encodes a secretory protein with significant homology to odorant-binding protein (OBP), a protein with broad odorant-binding ability, and is expressed in the lateral nasal gland, which is the site of expression of OBP. The OBPII sequence also shows significant homology to the VEG protein, which is thought to be involved in taste transduction. OBPII is a new member of the lipophilic molecule carrier protein family. The second cDNA clone encodes a novel homologue of glutathione peroxidase, an enzyme involved in cellular biotransformation pathways. Its expression appears to be localized to the Bowman's glands, the site of several previously identified olfactory-specific biotransformation enzymes.