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Author
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Topic: Definition of Terms
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Rlynch
Member
Member # 532
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posted 30. October 2002 23:34
I was reading through some of the discussions on this forum for the first time. And was having some trouble figuring out what some of the terms used in these discussions mean. I was hoping someone could shed some light on the subject and define some of the following terms for me. IC, RAG, TcR, MHL, RSS.
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rafe gutman
Member
Member # 134
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posted 31. October 2002 04:06
sure, let me try
IC = irreducible complexity (or irreducibly complex)
RAG = Recombination Activating Genes, a set of two genes (RAG-1 and RAG-2) whose products catalyze V(D)J recombination, a sort of DNA swapping process that produces antigen-receptor genes. the only two genes that undergo this process in mammals are immunoglobulin (Ig) and T cell receptors (TCR)
TCR = T cell receptor, an antigen receptor expressed by T cells. used in the detection of foreign agents
MHC = Major Histocompatibility Complex, this can mean two different things depending on the context. most of the time it refers to the set of molecules that control tissue rejection. the molecules themselves bind to and display small peptide fragments on the surface of a cell. the peptide-MHC complex can interact with TCR, producing an immune response if the peptide is from a foreign protein.
RSS - Recombination Signal Sequence, the DNA sequence that the RAG proteins recognize and bind to. they can then cut out the region in between two RSSs.
if you're interested in some good reading material on this, try The generation of diversity in immunoglobulins
this is a section from a very good text on immunology, which is freely accessible online
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