Rearranging sequence located in the intron of the human T cell receptor γ chain gene constant region

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Abstract
Human T cell rearranging γ genes encode membrane proteins which are expressed by a minor subset of T cells. Extensive studies have shown that TcR γ gene rearrangements result from Vγ-Jγ recombinations. Here we analyze an unusual rearrangement involving a non-translatable sequence flanked by heptamer and nonamer signals in a Ti α/β-positive T cell clone (JF1). This sequence, designated here as IγRS, is distinct from V, D or J elements. It is located in the first intron of the first constant region (Cγ1) and homologous sequences are conserved in Cγ2 introns. In JF1 cells the IγRS is juxtaposed to the Jγ2 segment downstream to a Vγ10-Jγ1 rearrangement. The use of a cryptic splicing site induced JF1 cells to produce an aberrant large-sized transcript containing the IγRS 3′ to the first exon of Cγ1. Such a rearrangement occurring downstram to an inframe Vγ-Jγ junction may induce premature arrest of translation and lack of the C-terminal part of Cγ involved in γ-protein assembly.