Generation of a variant t(2;8) translocation of Burkitt's lymphoma by site-specific recombination via the kappa light-chain joining signals

Mol Cell Biol. 1987 Jun;7(6):2037-45. doi: 10.1128/mcb.7.6.2037-2045.1987.

Abstract

We analyzed the Burkitt's lymphoma line BL64 in which a reciprocal translocation joins the immunoglobulin kappa light-chain locus on chromosome 2 to the c-myc gene on chromosome 8. The breakpoints on the two marker chromosomes 8+ and 2p- occurred 5' of the Js segment within the conserved nonamer and heptamer recombination sequences. Both signals were detected directly adjacent to the breakpoints in sequences of chromosome 8 suggesting that the translocation in BL64 was catalyzed by enzymes normally involved in V-J recombination. The distance between the c-myc gene and the breakpoint in J kappa amounts to at least 90 kilobases on the DNA level. In one allele of the c-myc gene somatic mutations were found in the promoter-leader region. This allele is transcribed and is supposed to be involved in the translocation. The half-life of the c-myc-specific mRNA in BL64 cells is not prolonged in comparison to the normal c-myc message. These results suggest that in Burkitt's lymphoma the translocation occurs during an early stage of B-cell differentiation and that in the variant translocations mechanisms other than a prolonged half-life, such as changes in transcriptional rates, or other posttranscriptional RNA processing contribute to the high steady-state level of c-myc RNA in the cytoplasm.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Base Sequence
  • Burkitt Lymphoma / genetics
  • Burkitt Lymphoma / immunology*
  • Cell Line
  • Chromosomes, Human, Pair 2*
  • Chromosomes, Human, Pair 8*
  • Genes*
  • Genetic Variation*
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin Light Chains / genetics*
  • Immunoglobulin kappa-Chains / genetics*
  • Mutation
  • Nucleic Acid Hybridization
  • Proto-Oncogenes*
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • Transcription, Genetic
  • Translocation, Genetic*

Substances

  • Immunoglobulin Light Chains
  • Immunoglobulin kappa-Chains
  • RNA, Messenger

Associated data

  • GENBANK/M16600
  • GENBANK/M16601