Molecular Aspects of Somatic Hypermutation of Immunoglobulin Genes

The diversity of the antibody repertoire is created atseveral levels. Mice and humans have approximately 100germ-line V genes and several (D and) J gene segments intheir heavy- and light-chain loci. A major amplificationof the germ-line repertoire occurs by V(D)J recombination during B-cell development. The repertoire is furtherdiversified by somatic hypermutation in mature B cellsthat have encountered antigen and T-cell help. Somatichypermutation is dependent on the formation of germinalcenters in the peripheral lymphoid organs...