Two pairs of recombination signals are sufficient to cause immunoglobulin V-(D)-J joining

The minimum sequence requirements for antigen receptor V-(D)-J joining were studied by constructing recombination-substrates containing synthetic recombination signals and introducing them into a recombination-competent pre-B cell line. Two sets of heptamer (CACTGTG) and nonamer (GGTTTTTGT) sequences were shown to be sufficient to cause the V-(D)-J joining, if the 12- and 23-base pair spacer rule is satisfied. A point mutation in the heptamer sequence, or a change in the combination of the two spacer lengths, drastically reduced the recombination.