Epigenetic Regulation of Monoallelic Rearrangement (Allelic Exclusion) of Antigen Receptor Genes

While most genes in the mammalian genome are transcribed from both parental chromosomes in cells where they are expressed, approximately 10% of genes are expressed monoallelically, so that any given cell will express either the paternal or maternal allele, but not both. The antigen receptor genes in B and T cells are well studied examples of a gene family which is expressed in a monoallelic manner, in a process coined "allelic exclusion". During...