Beschreibung:
<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:p>A hallmark of human NK cells is the expression of HLA class I‐specific killer‐cell immunoglobulin‐like receptors (KIR). An interesting facet of the KIR family is the unusual variability of the respective gene cluster, which is changing shape at an astonishing evolutionary pace. Not only do <jats:italic>KIR</jats:italic> genes come in different allelic variants, but the <jats:italic>KIR</jats:italic> locus has also gone through drastic contractions and expansions in recent evolutionary history, resulting in a wide variety of <jats:italic>KIR</jats:italic> haplotypes. A new study now reveals how an originally nonfunctional <jats:italic>KIR</jats:italic> pseudogene, <jats:italic>KIR3DP1</jats:italic>, is brought back to life in certain individuals via non‐reciprocal recombination between two different <jats:italic>KIR</jats:italic> haplotypes. This Commentary outlines how the unique architecture of the <jats:italic>KIR</jats:italic> locus facilitates the generation of new <jats:italic>KIR</jats:italic> haplotypes and discusses the functional relevance of it.</jats:p><jats:p>See accompanying article: <jats:ext-link xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" ext-link-type="doi" xlink:href="10.1002/eji.200425493">http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/eji.200425493</jats:ext-link></jats:p>