Laboratory of Molecular Immuneregulation, SAIC-FCRDC, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, Maryland
Correspondence: Kathrin Muegge, SAIC-FCRDC, Laboratory of Molecular Immunoregulation, National Cancer Institute, Bldg. 560, Rm. 31-45, Frederick, MD 21702-1201. E-mail: MACROBUTTON HtmlResAnchor muegge{at}mail.ncifcrf.gov
IL-7 is a key factor for lymphoid development, and it contributes to
V(D)J recombination at multiple loci in immune-receptor genes. IL-7
signal transduction, involving 
c and Jak3, is required
for successful recombination at the TCR- locus. IL-7 signaling
controls the initiation phase of V(D)J recombination by controlling
access of the V(D)J recombinase to the locus. In the absence of IL-7,
the TCR- locus is methylated and packaged in a repressed form of
chromatin consisting of hypoacetylated histones. IL-7 signaling likely
increases the acetylation state of the nucleosomal core histones
resulting in an "open" form of chromatin. This opening leads to a
higher accessibility for the transcription machinery and increased
accessibility of the Rag heterodimer that performs the cleavage of
DNA.
Key Words: lymphoid development • TCR- locus • immunoglobulin • transposon • Rag-1/Rag-2
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