Gene Targeting at the Chromosomal Immunoglobulin Locus: A Model System for the Study of Mammalian Homologous Recombination Mechanisms

Plasmid DNA transfected into mammalian cells can integrate into mammalian chromosomes by homologous recombination. This phenomenon, known as gene targeting, can be used as a tool to investigate mammalian homologous recombination mechanisms. The chromosomal immunoglobulin (Ig) genes as they are presented in mouse hybridoma cells have several advantages that render them particularly amenable to gene targeting. Here, we present the basic methods currently in use in our laboratory that exploit this system to investigate mammalian gene targeting mechanisms.