title: Cytotoxic T lymphocytes discriminate between isomeric forms of the same hapten.
abstract: We have analysed the ability of fluorescein-specific cytolytic T lymphocytes (CTLs) to lyse a variety of hapten-derived target cells. Our data demonstrate that: (i) fluorescein-specific CTLs distinguish between target cells conjugated with isomeric forms of the hapten in a way that is not attributable to differences in the target cell density of the two hapten isomers; (ii) the relative orientation of the haptenic moiety with respect to the target cell membrane is more important than the chemical nature of the hapten/protein linkage. We interpret these data as supporting a model of the T-cell receptor in which the elements that recognize the extrinsic and the restricting Class 1 major histocompatibility complex (MHC) antigens are sterically constrained and unable to rotate independently of one another.
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Owen
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Scinto
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Klein
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Kline
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003429:Cross Reactions; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D005260:Female; D016650:Fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate; D005452:Fluoresceins / Q000276:immunology; D006241:Haptens / Q000276:immunology*; D007536:Isomerism; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology*; D013861:Thiocyanates / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D005452:Fluoresceins; D006241:Haptens; D013861:Thiocyanates; C039083:5-((4,6-dichloro-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl)amino)fluorescein; D016650:Fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate