TCR beta and TCR alpha gene enhancers confer tissue- and stage-specificity on V(D)J recombination events.

Abstract

We describe transgenic mice carrying germline variable gene segments associated with either the T cell receptor (TCR) ? or ? gene enhancers (E? or E?). Transgenic constructs underwent high rates of site-specific rearrangements predominantly in T cells from independent mice. Rearrangements of the E?-containing transgenes began at different stages of T cell differentiation in embryonic and adult thymus than did the E?-containing ones, with a pattern superimposable upon the patterns of TCR? or TCR? gene expression, respectively. We demonstrate that sequences within the TCR? and TCR? gene enhancers confer tissue- and stage-specificity upon the V(D)J recombination events affecting adjacent gene segments. The patterns of transgene expression also gave information on developmental events and lineage relationships (?? versus ??) during T cell development.