Abstract
B cells, alphabeta T cells and gammadelta T cells are conserved lymphocyte subtypes encoding their antigen receptors from somatically rearranged genes. alphabeta T cells undergo positive selection in the thymus by engagement of their T cell receptors (TCRs) with self-peptides presented by major histocompatibility complex molecules. The molecules that select gammadelta T cells are unknown. Vgamma5+Vdelta1+ cells comprise 90% of mouse epidermal gammadelta T cells. By mapping and genetic complementation using a strain showing loss of Vgamma5+Vdelta1+ cells due to a failure of thymic selection, we show that this defect is caused by mutation in Skint1, a newly identified gene expressed in thymus and skin that encodes a protein with immunoglobulin-like and transmembrane domains. Skint1 is the prototypic member of a rapidly evolving family of at least 11 genes in mouse, with greatest similarity to the butyrophilin genes. These findings define a new family of proteins mediating key epithelial-immune interactions.
Publication types
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Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Amino Acid Sequence
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Animals
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Codon, Nonsense
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Epidermis / immunology*
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Genetic Linkage
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Haplotypes
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Immunoglobulins / chemistry
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Immunoglobulins / genetics*
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Immunoglobulins / immunology*
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Mice
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Mice, Transgenic
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Molecular Sequence Data
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Multigene Family*
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Mutation
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Protein Conformation
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Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta / analysis
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Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta / immunology*
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T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
Substances
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Codon, Nonsense
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Immunoglobulins
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Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta
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Skint1 protein, mouse
Associated data
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GENBANK/EF494889
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GENBANK/EF494890
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GENBANK/EF494891
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GENBANK/EF494892
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GENBANK/EF494893
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GENBANK/EF494894
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GENBANK/EF494895
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GENBANK/EF494896
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GENBANK/EF494897
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GENBANK/EF494898
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GENBANK/EF494899
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GENBANK/EF494900
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GENBANK/EF494901
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GENBANK/EF494902
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GENBANK/EF494903
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GENBANK/EF494904
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GENBANK/EF494905
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GENBANK/EF494906
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GENBANK/EF494907
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GENBANK/EU099296
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GENBANK/EU099297
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GENBANK/EU099298
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GENBANK/EU099299
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GENBANK/EU099300
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GENBANK/EU099301
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GENBANK/EU099302
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GENBANK/EU099303
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GENBANK/EU099304
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GENBANK/EU099305
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GENBANK/EU099306
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GENBANK/EU099307
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GENBANK/EU099308
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GENBANK/EU099309