II. Correlations between secondary structure stability and mutation frequency during somatic hypermutation

Authors

Barbara E. Wright, University of Montana, Missoula
Karen H. Schmidt, University of Montana, Missoula
Nick Davis, University of Montana, Missoula
Aaron T. Hunt, University of Montana, Missoula
Michael F. Minnick, University of Montana, Missoula

Document Type

Article

Publication Title

Molecular Immunology

Publication Date

8-2008

Volume

45

Issue

13

Disciplines

Biology | Life Sciences

Abstract

The role of secondary structures and base mutability at different levels of transcription and supercoiling is analyzed in variable region antibody genes VH5, VH94 and VH186.2. The data are consistent with a model of somatic hypermutation in which increasing levels of transcription and secondary structure stability correlate with the initial formation of successive mutable sites. Encoded differences exist in stem length and the number of GC pairs at low versus high levels of transcription in CDRs. These circumstances simplify the complexities of coordinating mutagenesis by confining this process to each mutable site successively, as they form in response to increasing levels of transcription during affinity maturation.

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molimm.2008.05.012

Rights

© 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Recommended Citation

Wright, Barbara E.; Schmidt, Karen H.; Davis, Nick; Hunt, Aaron T.; and Minnick, Michael F., "II. Correlations between secondary structure stability and mutation frequency during somatic hypermutation" (2008). Biological Sciences Faculty Publications. 463.
https://scholarworks.umt.edu/biosci_pubs/463