title: Some hints concerning the shape of T-cell receptor structures.
abstract: Several models are proposed for T-cell antigen receptor (TCR) assembly and structure. However, there is little experimental data favouring directly either one or the other(s). The minimal complex appears to be composed of a TCRalphabeta/CD3deltaepsilon,gammaepsilon/zeta2 structure but at the cell membrane, multimers of this minimal structure may be formed. Quantitative cytofluometry has suggested three CD3epsilon chains for two TCRbeta (or TCRdelta) chains/complex. Such data should be repeated with monoclonal antibodies (MoAb) against extracellular (EC) parts of CD3delta or CD3gamma chains. In the present review, we have compared the TCR/CD3 assembly of pre-TCR, TCRgammadelta and TCRalphabeta containing complexes, and analysed the reactivity of antibodies (Abs) against the EC part of CD3delta chains. Our data suggest an alternative assembly pathway and structure of TCR/CD3 complexes.
authors.affiliation: Unité de Physiopathologie Cellulaire et Moléculaire, CNRS UPR-2163, Hôpital Purpan, 31059 Toulouse Cedex 03, France. rubin@immgen.cnrs.fr
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rubin
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Alibaud
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Huchenq-Champagne
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Arnaud
authors.forename: M-L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Toribio
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Constans
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies; D017252:CD3 Complex / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D018448:Models, Immunological; D008958:Models, Molecular; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D017252:CD3 Complex; C115335:CD3E protein, human; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta