title: Structure and specificity of the T cell antigen receptor.
abstract: The antigen receptor on T lymphocytes is a multi-chain complex of which two chains determine its specificity for antigen. Although these receptor chains possess genetic and structural similarities with membrane-bound immunoglobulin, the B cell antigen receptor, they endow T cells with a distinct specificity. Unlike B cells, T cells recognize foreign antigenic properties only in the form of proteolytic fragments bound to molecules encoded by the major histocompatibility complex. In addition, one stage of the development of T cells in the thymus is dependent upon an antigen receptor-mediated event. Utilizing the response to a well defined antigen as a model system, we discuss the relationship between receptor structure and the specificity of these recognition events.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kaye
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kersh
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Engel
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Hedrick
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000941:Antigens / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D001483:Base Sequence; D002999:Clone Cells; D000939:Epitopes; D015329:Gene Rearrangement, T-Lymphocyte; D005796:Genes; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / Q000502:physiology*; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000502:physiology*; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000254:growth & development
chemical_list: D000941:Antigens; D000939:Epitopes; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta