Molecular organization of the human CD3 gene family on chromosome 11q23

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The genes encoding three invariant components of the human T-cell antigen receptor, the CD3 δ, γ, and ε chains, are located on human chromosome 11 at band q23. We isolated cosmid clones containing the human CD3 δ and γ chain genes in vectors designed for rapid and efficient chromosome “walking”. The human CD3ε gene was located in the region immediately downstream of the CD3 δ and γ genes using synthetic oligonucleotide probes and the localization of this gene confirmed by DNA sequencing. Detailed restriction mapping of the CD3 locus demonstrated that all three CD3 subunits are encoded within 60 kb of DNA with the CD3ε gene located 26 kb downstream of the CD3 δ and γ genes. Analysis of genomic DNA on pulsed field gels using probes isolated from these cosmid clones defined a physical map of 750 kb spanning the CD3 locus on human chromosome 11g23. The CD3 genes thus comprise a multigene family encoding cell surface components important for transmembrane signaling on T lymphocytes. The arrangement of these genes suggest that they may share common regulatory elements for the control of gene expression during T-cell ontogeny.