Abstract
Although the primary function of the DNA mismatch repair (MMR) system is to identify and correct base mismatches that have been erroneously introduced during DNA replication, recent studies have further implicated several MMR components in somatic hypermutation of immunoglobulin (Ig) genes. We studied the immune response in mice deficient in MutS homologue (MSH)3 and MSH6, two mutually exclusive partners of MSH2 that have not been examined previously for their role in Ig hypermutation. In Msh6(-)/- and Msh3(-)/-/Msh6(-)/- mice, base substitutions are preferentially targeted to G and C nucleotides and to an RGYW hot spot, as has been shown previously in Msh2(-)/- mice. In contrast, Msh3(-)/- mice show no differences from their littermate controls. These findings indicate that the MSH2-MSH6 heterodimer, but not the MSH2-MSH3 complex, is responsible for modulating Ig hypermutation.
Publication types
-
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
-
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
MeSH terms
-
Adenosine Triphosphatases*
-
Animals
-
B-Lymphocytes / immunology
-
Bacterial Proteins / genetics*
-
Base Pair Mismatch*
-
DNA Repair*
-
DNA-Binding Proteins / deficiency
-
DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics*
-
Dimerization
-
Escherichia coli Proteins*
-
Mice
-
Multidrug Resistance-Associated Proteins*
-
MutS DNA Mismatch-Binding Protein
-
MutS Homolog 2 Protein
-
MutS Homolog 3 Protein
-
Mutation
-
Proto-Oncogene Proteins / deficiency
-
Spleen / immunology
Substances
-
Bacterial Proteins
-
DNA-Binding Proteins
-
Escherichia coli Proteins
-
G-T mismatch-binding protein
-
MSH3 protein, human
-
Msh6 protein, mouse
-
Multidrug Resistance-Associated Proteins
-
MutS Homolog 3 Protein
-
Proto-Oncogene Proteins
-
Adenosine Triphosphatases
-
Msh2 protein, mouse
-
MutS DNA Mismatch-Binding Protein
-
MutS Homolog 2 Protein
-
MutS protein, E coli
-
multidrug resistance-associated protein 1