Work

Arginine methylation of the B cell antigen receptor promotes differentiation

Year: 2010

Type: article

Abstract: Signals processed through the B cell antigen receptor (BCR) control both the proliferation and differentiation of B lymphocytes. How these different signaling modes are established at the BCR is poorly understood. We show that a conserved arginine in the tail sequence of the Igalpha subunit of the BCR is methylated by the protein arginine methyltransferase 1. This modification negatively regulates the calcium and PI-3 kinase pathways of the BCR while promoting signals leading to B cell differentiation. Thus, Igalpha arginine methylation can play an important role in specifying the outcome of BCR signaling.

Source: The Journal of Experimental Medicine

DOI: 10.1084/jem.20091303

Authors: Simona Infantino, Beate Benz, Tanja Waldmann, Manfred Jung, Robert Schneider, Michael Reth

Institutions: University of Freiburg, Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics

Language: English

Topic: T-cell and B-cell Immunology

Subfield: Immunology

Field: Immunology and Microbiology

Domain: Life Sciences

Open Access status: bronze

Funder: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft

Awards: G550493830, G912826795