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The recombination activating gene 2 (RAG2) of the rainbow troutOncorhynchus mykiss

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Abstract

We have previously described the isolation and expression ofRAG1 in trout to provide an initial understanding regarding the tissues involved inV(D)J recombination of antigen receptors in this teleost. Here we report that the recombination activating gene 2 (RAG2) of rainbow trout has now been cloned and characterized. The rainbow trout genomicRAG2 gene (1602 base pairs) displays an average of 60% and 75% similarity at the nucleotide and amino acid level when compared with clones from other species and was found to contain an acidic region in the carboxyl terminal end, which is typical ofRAG2 sequences. The proximity ofRAG1 and −2 within this teleost is similar to that found in other vertebrates. The genes are convergently transcribed and share a 3′ untranslated (UT) region [2.8 kilobases (kb)] which is much shorter than that found in higher vertebrates (6–8 kb). The entire 3′ UT region was also sequenced and used in conjunction with cDNA clones to identify the polyadenylation sites for bothRAG genes. Northern blot analysis of one-year-old trout demonstrated strong expression ofRAG2 in the thymus, with a much weaker signal being detected in the pronephros. Using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction, we detected the highest expression of bothRAG1 and −2 in the thymas followed by the pronephros, with much fainter signals being observed in the spleen, mesonephros, and liver. Finally, both genes are expressed in embryos begining at approximately day 10 post-fertilization. Taken together, these findings indicate that the thymus and pronephros most likely serve as the primary lymphoid tissues in trout, based uponRAG expression. In addition, the trout sequences may provide further insight into the evolution and origins of theRAG genes as well as that of the immune system itself.

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Author notes

  1. John D. Hansen

    Present address: Basel Institute for Immunology, Grenzacherstrasse 487, CH-4005, Basel, Switzerland

  2. Stephen L. Kaattari

    Present address: Department of Environmental Sciences, Virginia Institute of Marine Science, College of William and Mary, 23062, Gloucester Pt., VA, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Microbiology, Oregon State University, 97331-3804, Corvallis, OR, USA

    John D. Hansen & Stephen L. Kaattari

  2. The Center for Salmon Disease Research, Oregon State University, 97331-3804, Corvallis, OR, USA

    John D. Hansen & Stephen L. Kaattari

Authors
  1. John D. Hansen
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  2. Stephen L. Kaattari
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Additional information

The nucleotide sequence data reported in this paper have been submitted to the GenBank nucleotide sequence database and have been assigned the accession number U31670

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Hansen, J.D., Kaattari, S.L. The recombination activating gene 2 (RAG2) of the rainbow troutOncorhynchus mykiss . Immunogenetics 44, 203–211 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02602586

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02602586

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