# STRUCTURE AND DIVERSITY IN THE IMMUNE SYSTEM

> **NIH NIH R01** · MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY · 1993 · $235,219

## Abstract

Present understanding of antibodies and their related genes is based
almost entirely on information derived from a few mammalian species. The
overall goal of this research program is to increase our understanding of
the range of diversity in the vertebrate immune system. These
investigations may also clarify aspects of the immune response in mammals.
Much of our recent work has focussed on the immune system of the
amphibian, Xenopus laevis, a classical model for vertebrate development.

One objective is to elucidate the genomic organization of a recently
identified immunoglobulin light chain family in Xenopus. This family is
particularly interesting because it is very different in sequence from all
known light chains. Examination of the genes encoding these light chains
may provide insight into evolutionary relationships, which are not
apparent from sequence comparisons.

The developmental sequence of gene rearrangement events in the formation
of immunoglobulin and T cell receptor molecules will also be examined. To
this end, we have identified the Xenopus homologues of two genes, RAG-1
and RAG-2, which have a critical role in this process. Studies of their
expression should help to define developmental lineages of B and T
lymphocytes in this species. These studies may also elucidate the
molecular basis for changes in the immune response that accompany
metamorphosis.  Although immunoglobulin genes have been characterized in
considerable detail, genes encoding Xenopus T cell receptors have not yet
been identified. Therefore, isolation and characterization of these
receptors is an important objective.

To date, there is no definitive evidence for an inducible immune response
in the most primitive vertebrate group, the Agnatha (jawless fish). Since
our studies indicate that RAG-1 is a highly conserved gene from sharks to
mammals, it may be more easily identified than the more divergent
immunoglobulin genes. We will, therefore, determine whether RAG-1 is
present in representative Agnatha (hagfish and lamprey); its
identification would justify renewed efforts to characterize the immune
system of these primitive vertebrates.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3124394
- **Project number:** 2R01AI008054-27A1
- **Recipient organization:** MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
- **SAM.gov UEI:** E2NYLCDML6V1
- **Principal Investigator:** LISA A STEINER
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1993
- **Award amount:** $235,219
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** 1978-09-01 → 1998-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3124394

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3124394, STRUCTURE AND DIVERSITY IN THE IMMUNE SYSTEM (2R01AI008054-27A1). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3124394. Licensed CC0.

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