C-terminal deletion of AID uncouples class switch recombination from somatic hypermutation and gene conversion

Vasco Barreto, Bernardo Reina-San-Martin, Almudena R. Ramiro, Kevin M. McBride, Michel C. Nussenzweig

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

235 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Class-switch recombination (CSR), somatic hypermutation (SHM), and antibody gene conversion are distinct DNA modification reactions, but all are initiated by activation-induced cytidine deaminase (AID), an enzyme that deaminates cytidine residues in single-stranded DNA. Here we describe a mutant form of AID that catalyzes SHM and gene conversion but not CSR. When expressed in E. coli, AIDΔ189-198 is more active in catalyzing cytidine deamination than wild-type AID. AIDΔ189-198 also promotes high levels of gene conversion and SHM when expressed in eukaryotic cells, but fails to induce CSR. These results underscore an essential role for the C-terminal domain of AID in CSR that is independent of its cytidine deaminase activity and that is not required for either gene conversion or SHM.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)501-508
Number of pages8
JournalMolecular Cell
Volume12
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Aug 2003
Externally publishedYes

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