RAG-mediated DNA double-strand breaks activate a cell type-specific checkpoint to inhibit pre-B cell receptor signals.

DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) activate a canonical DNA damage response, including highly conserved cell cycle checkpoint pathways that prevent cells with DSBs from progressing through the cell cycle. In developing B cells, pre-B cell receptor (pre-BCR) signals initiate immunoglobulin light (Igl) chain gene assembly, leading to RAG-mediated DNA DSBs. The pre-BCR also promotes cell cycle entry, which could cause aberrant DSB repair and genome instability in pre-B cells.

Molecular cloning, characterization and expression profile of a glutathione peroxidase-like thioredoxin peroxidase (TPxGl) of the rodent malaria parasite Plasmodium berghei.

Glutathione peroxidases (GPx) comprise an important group of redox active proteins with diverse functions, including antioxidant defense and signaling. Although the genome of the malaria parasite Plasmodium does not contain a genuine GPx gene a glutathione peroxidase-like thioredoxin peroxidase (TPx(Gl)) has recently been identified and biochemically characterized in the human malaria parasite P. falciparum.

The ataxia telangiectasia mutated kinase controls Igκ allelic exclusion by inhibiting secondary Vκ-to-Jκ rearrangements.

Allelic exclusion is enforced through the ability of antigen receptor chains expressed from one allele to signal feedback inhibition of V-to-(D)J recombination on the other allele. To achieve allelic exclusion by such means, only one allele can initiate V-to-(D)J recombination within the time required to signal feedback inhibition. DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) induced by the RAG endonuclease during V(D)J recombination activate the Ataxia Telangiectasia mutated (ATM) and DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK) kinases.