Affinity maturation of antibodies is characterized by localized hypermutation of the DNA around the V segment. Here we show, using mice containing single or multiple transgene constructs, that an immunoglobulin V_κ segment can be replaced by human ?-globin or prokaryotic neo or gpt genes without affecting the rate of hypermutation; the V gene itself is not necessary for recruiting hypermutation. The ability to target hypermutation to heterologous genes In vivo could find more general applications in biology.
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