Methods for Study of Mouse T Cell Receptor α and β Gene Rearrangements

AbstractQuantitative real-time PCR and next-generation sequencing (NGS) are invaluable techniques to analyze T cell receptor (Tcr) gene rearrangements in mouse lymphocyte populations. Although these approaches are powerful, they also have limitations that must be accounted for in experimental design and data interpretation. Here, we provide relevant background required for understanding these limitations and then outline established quantitative real-time PCR and NGS methods that can be used for analysis of mouse Tcra and Tcrb gene rearrangements in mice.Key wordsVDJ recombinationT cell receptor (Tcr) genesVariable (V), diversity (D), and joining (J) gene segmentsThymocytesT cell receptor (TCR) proteinsαβ T cells