Organization of the human T-cell receptor genes.
T lymphocytes recognize antigens through their membrane bound T-cell receptors. Whereas the conventional T-cell receptors are heterodimers of alpha and beta chains, expressed at the surface of CD3+ CD4+ and CD3+ CD8+ T lymphocytes, the gamma delta T-cell receptors are found at the surface of a subset of T-lymphocytes of phenotype CD3+ CD4- CD8-. The synthesis of the T-cell receptor chains results from the junction (or rearrangement) of DNA segments: Variable (V) gene and joining (J) segment for the alpha and gamma chains, V gene, D (diversity) and J segments for the beta and delta chains. In this review, we summarize the recent findings on the genomic organization of the alpha, beta, gamma and delta T-cell receptor loci in human.
Lefranc
M P
MP
URA CNRS 1191, Université Montpellier II, France.
D000818:Animals; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000032:analysis; D015415:Biomarkers; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D015329:Gene Rearrangement, T-Lymphocyte; D005796:Genes; D006801:Humans; D015394:Molecular Structure; D010641:Phenotype; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*
D015703:Antigens, CD; D015415:Biomarkers; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell