Interaction of the T cell receptor with bacterial superantigens.
Bacterial toxin superantigens bind to MHC class II molecules and activate a large proportion of T cells through a direct interaction with the T cell receptor (TCR). The toxin: TCR interaction involves specific recognition between the beta-chain variable region and the toxin. Although a complete alpha beta T cell receptor is required for activation of T cells, studies using purified soluble T cell receptor beta-chain have shown that it alone is sufficient for binding the toxin: class II complex. The regions of V beta and enterotoxin involved in the recognition have been determined.
Gascoigne
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Department of Immunology, Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037.
D000818:Animals; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000378:metabolism*; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000378:metabolism; D001665:Binding Sites; D004768:Enterotoxins / Q000276:immunology; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / Q000378:metabolism*; D012190:Retroviridae / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology
D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D000956:Antigens, Viral; D004768:Enterotoxins; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta