Structure-function relationships among highly diverse T cells that recognize a determinant from influenza virus hemagglutinin.
We have analyzed the structural and genetic basis for T cell recognition of the complex formed between antigen and class II products of the major histocompatibility complex by performing sequence analysis of T cell receptors (TCRs) induced in response to the helper T cell site 1 of the influenza virus hemagglutinin. The results demonstrate, first, that structurally highly diverse TCRs can be utilized in recognition of the same antigen/I-Ed complex: 12 of 13 TCRs utilize unique V alpha/V beta gene segment combinations, suggesting that approximately 70 different V alpha/V beta combinations are available to BALB/c mice in response to this determinant. Second, comparison of these sequences with the ability of each hybridoma to recognize a panel of peptide analogues suggests that alpha and beta chains of these TCRs frequently determine specificity for the NH2-terminal and the COOH terminal portions, respectively, of the site 1 determinant.
Wistar Institute of Anatomy and Biology, Philadelphia, Pennsylyvania 19104.
A H
AH
Taylor
A M
AM
Haberman
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W
Gerhard
A J
AJ
Caton
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D000939:Epitopes / Q000276:immunology; D005802:Genes, MHC Class II; D019267:Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus; D006389:Hemagglutinins, Viral / Q000276:immunology*; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D015345:Oligonucleotide Probes; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology*
D000939:Epitopes; D019267:Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus; D006389:Hemagglutinins, Viral; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D015345:Oligonucleotide Probes; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell