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ESI Special Topics, November 2002
Citing URL: http://www.esi-topics.com/fmf/november02-TasukuHonjo.html

From •>>November 2002

Professor Tasuku Honjo answers a few questions about this month's fast moving front in the field of Immunology.

Title: "Class switch recombination and hypermutation require activation-induced cytidine deaminase (AID), a potential RNA editing enzyme"
Authors: Muramatsu, M;Kinoshita, K;Fagarasan, S;Yamada, S;Shinkai, Y;Honjo, T
Journal: CELL, 102: (5) 553-563 SEP 1 2000
Addresses:
Kyoto Univ, Grad Sch Med, Dept Med Chem, Kyoto 6068501, Japan.
Kyoto Univ, Grad Sch Med, Dept Med Chem, Kyoto 6068501, Japan.
Kyoto Univ, Inst Virus Res, Dept Cell Biol, Kyoto 6068501, Japan.


ST:  Why do you think your paper is highly cited?

This paper is highly cited because it describes the totally unexpected finding that two entirely different changes in immunoglobulin genes—namely class switch recombination and hypermutation—are regulated by a single novel protein AID. Before this paper, the two events were thought to be mediated and regulated by entirely different mechanisms.

ST:  Does it describe a new discovery or new methodology that's useful to others?

Yes. The finding that AID is involved in DNA cleavage indicates that expression of AID can cause instability of the whole genome. Such an implication will lead to basic understanding of generation of tumors, and many other genetic diseases.

ST:  Could you summarize the significance of your paper in layman terms?

This paper describes a breakthrough for understanding the molecular mechanism for generation of immunoglobulins that are efficient in recognition and elimination of invading microorganisms. AID will solve a long-standing mystery of how immunoglobulins are generated by antigen stimulation.

ST:  How did you become involved in this research?

In 1978, we found that DNA deletion of immunoglobulin genes takes place upon class switching. We have studied this mechanism for the past 25 years. We looked for a molecule that regulates DNA deletion in class switch recombination, and we identified AID.End

Professor Tasuku Honjo
Department of Medical Chemistry
Kyoto University, Faculty of Medicine
Yoshida, Sakyo-ku
Kyoto 606-8501
Japan

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ESI Special Topics, November 2002
Citing URL: http://www.esi-topics.com/fmf/november02-TasukuHonjo.html
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