The isolation of the human δ chain gene and its expression in normal T cells and T cell leukemias

Abstract

In this paper we describe a gene that lies 85 kb 5' of the constant region of the human α chain and some 30-50 kb 3' of the α chain V region (H. Griesser, unpublished observation).This gene undergoes somatic recombination and is transcribed in thymocytes, PHA-stimulated peripheral blood T cells, an some T cell leukemic cell lines. Sequence analysis revealed that the gene has a structure similar to that of immunoglobulin and other T cell antigen receptor genes. Comparison of the sequence to a mouse gene found in a similar location revealed 80% homology at the protein level. Recently, M. Davis and A. Weiss (personal communication) have demonstrated that the protein product of the mouse gene is the δ chain gene. Thus, the gene described in this paper represents the human homolog of the δ chain gene of the T cell antigen receptor.