The half-life of RAG-1 protein in precursor B cells is increased in the absence of RAG-2 expression.

Abstract

Site-specific recombination of immunoglobulin and T cell receptor gene segments in B and T lymphocytes is dependent on the expression of two recombinant activation genes, Rag-1 and Rag-2. Here, we show that RAG-1 protein turnover in pre-B cells depends on the expression of RAG-2. The apparent half-life of RAG-1 protein is increased when RAG-2 is not expressed in differentiating pre-B cells.