Question

Discuss how B-lymphocytes manipulate their Immunoglobulin genes to provide unlimited types of antibodies [both receptor and soluble versions] to recognize flawed cells. What role do Rag 1/ 2 and Artemis play in this story?  

Answer 1

The main functions of B cells are: to make antibodies against antigens, to perform the role of antigen-presenting cells (APCs), to develop into memory B cells after activation by antigen interaction. B-cells are as important as T-cells and are much more than just a final clean-up crew. They make important molecules called antibodies. These molecules trap specific invading viruses and bacteria. Without this line of defense, your body would not be able to finish fighting most infections. B cells develop from hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) that originate from bone marrow. HSCs first differentiate into multipotent progenitor (MPP) cells, then common lymphoid progenitor (CLP) cells. From here, their development into B cells occurs in several stages, each marked by various gene expression patterns and immunoglobulin H chain and L chain gene loci arrangements, the latter due to B cells undergoing V(D)J recombination as they develop.

Artemis plays an essential role in V(D)J recombination, the process by which B cell antibody genes and T cell receptor genes are assembled from individual V (variable), D (diversity), and J (joining) segments.[8] For example, in joining a V segment to a D segment, the RAG (recombination activating gene) nuclease cuts both DNA strands adjacent to a V segment and adjacent to a D segment.