Abstract
The antigen receptor on B cells (B cell receptor [BCR]) consists of two noncovalently associated modules. Immunoglobulin genes created somatically during B cell development encode the antigen-specific component of the receptor. The Igα/β heterodimer, encoded by the mb-1 and B29 genes, is necessary to escort the receptor complex to the plasma membrane. Following antigen engagement of the BCR, Igα/β nucleates signalls transduction and promotes endocytosis of bound antigen for intracellular degradation and presentation to helper T-cells. In this review, we outline the discovery of the mb-1 gene; summarize results from other laboratories on the function of Igα/β in B cells; and conclude with our recent studies; which indicate that mb-1 is not a B-line age-restricted gene as originally proposed.
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Herren, B., Burrows, P.D. B cell-restricted human mb-1 gene. Immunol Res 26, 35–43 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1385/IR:26:1-3:035
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1385/IR:26:1-3:035