The role of somatic hypermutation in the generation of antibody diversity
DL French, R Laskov, MD Scharff - Science, 1989 - science.org
DL French, R Laskov, MD Scharff
Science, 1989•science.orgThe immune system is capable of establishing an enormous repertoire of antibodies before
its first contact with antigen. Most antibodies that express germ-line sequences are of
relatively low affinity. Once antigen enters the system, it stimulates a somatic mutational
mechanism that generates antibodies of higher affinity and selects for the expression of
those antibodies to produce a more effective immune response. The details of the
mechanism and regulation of somatic hypermutation remain to be elucidated.
its first contact with antigen. Most antibodies that express germ-line sequences are of
relatively low affinity. Once antigen enters the system, it stimulates a somatic mutational
mechanism that generates antibodies of higher affinity and selects for the expression of
those antibodies to produce a more effective immune response. The details of the
mechanism and regulation of somatic hypermutation remain to be elucidated.
The immune system is capable of establishing an enormous repertoire of antibodies before its first contact with antigen. Most antibodies that express germ-line sequences are of relatively low affinity. Once antigen enters the system, it stimulates a somatic mutational mechanism that generates antibodies of higher affinity and selects for the expression of those antibodies to produce a more effective immune response. The details of the mechanism and regulation of somatic hypermutation remain to be elucidated.
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