Human T cell gamma chain joining regions and T cell development.

We have cloned and sequenced two homologous J regions of the T cell gamma gene and localized one 5' of each constant region. They have been numbered J gamma 1.1 and J gamma 2.1; other J regions have been renamed in a similar manner. Southern blot analysis suggests that there is comparatively more rearrangement to these J regions in thymocytes than peripheral blood T cells. We propose that either there is gamma-chain gene rearrangement first to J gamma 1.1 or 2.1 and then to J gamma 1.3 or 2.3, or there is selected cell death of thymic T cells bearing a J gamma 1.1 or 2.1 rearrangement.