The T cell receptor alpha beta V-J shuffling shows lack of autonomy between the combining site and the constant domain of the receptor chains.
In order to assess the structural independence of the T cell receptor (TCR) combining site from the rest of the molecule we have generated two recombinant chains consisting of a TCR V-J alpha region linked to the C beta and a TCR V-J beta linked to the C alpha. If the V and C domains of the TCR form independent domains, as has been shown for the Ig molecules, we would expect to obtain a functional chimeric TCR. Interestingly, it was found that the shuffled molecules are produced intracellularly in T cell hybridomas, but are not expressed on the cell surface. To explain this failure of the shuffled molecules we propose that the TCR has a more compact structure, compared to the Ig, and that it is indispensable to keep a longitudinal inter-domain contact between the V-J and C portion to have a functional molecule.
Casorati
G
G
Basel Institute for Immunology, Switzerland.
Traunecker
A
A
Karjalainen
K
K
D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D001666:Binding Sites, Antibody / Q000276:immunology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D015329:Gene Rearrangement, T-Lymphocyte / Q000276:immunology*; D005803:Genes, Immunoglobulin / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*; D006825:Hybridomas / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D015345:Oligonucleotide Probes; D010957:Plasmids; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology; D014162:Transfection
D015345:Oligonucleotide Probes; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta