Hilschmann N, Barnikol HU, Kratzin H, Altevogt P, Engelhard M, Barnikol-Watanabe S. Genetic determination of antibody specificity. Gene translocation and fusion, the molecular basis for the differentiation of the antibody-producing cell.
THE SCIENCE OF NATURE - NATURWISSENSCHAFTEN 1978;
65:616-39. [PMID:
84341 DOI:
10.1007/bf00401905]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The best system for the study of cell differentiation is a cell which in its differentiated state differs only by one product. This is the case in the immune system. The undifferentiated, but omnipotent stem cell differentiates into a committed B cell which produces only one type of specific antibody out of a million different, genetically fixed possibilities. Gene translocation and fusion is the basis of this differentiation process.
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