title: Developmentally regulated rearrangement and expression of genes encoding the T cell receptor-T3 complex.
abstract: Human leukemic cells corresponding to the earliest identifiable stages of intrathymic T cell differentiation lack cell surface expression of the T cell receptor(TCR alpha/beta)-T3 complex but transcribe TCR beta mRNA from either germ-line configuration (1/13) or partially (DJ) or fully (VDJ) rearranged (12/13) genes. These cells do not produce TCR alpha mRNA, but do contain T3 delta and T3 epsilon mRNA and accumulate T3 polypeptides, primarily in the perinuclear envelope. Equivalent normal T cells isolated from thymus have a predominantly germ-line configuration of TCR beta but contain intracellular T3 proteins. T3 gene expression is therefore a very early event in T cell differentiation. TCR alpha chain production appears to be the limiting maturation-linked event in the transport, assembly, and cell surface membrane insertion of the TCR alpha/beta-T3 complex.
mesh_terms: D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000235:genetics*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000378:metabolism; D004253:DNA Nucleotidylexotransferase / Q000378:metabolism; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D005796:Genes; D006801:Humans; D007938:Leukemia / Q000235:genetics; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D011995:Recombination, Genetic; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; D004253:DNA Nucleotidylexotransferase