title: The organizing principle in the formation of the T cell receptor-CD3 complex.
abstract: The T cell receptor (TCR) serves a critical function in the immune system and represents one of the most complex receptor structures. A striking feature is the presence of nine highly conserved, potentially charged residues in the transmembrane helices. Previous models have attempted to explain assembly based on pairwise interactions of these residues. Using a novel method for the isolation of intact radiolabeled protein complexes, we demonstrate that one basic and two acidic transmembrane residues are required for the assembly of each of the three signaling dimers with the TCR. This remarkable three-helix arrangement applies to all three assembly steps and represents the organizing principle for the formation of this intricate receptor structure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cancer Immunology and AIDS, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
authors.forename: Matthew E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Call
authors.forename: Jason
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pyrdol
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wiedmann
authors.forename: Kai W
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Wucherpfennig
mesh_terms: D000596:Amino Acids / Q000737:chemistry; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000276:immunology; D019281:Dimerization; D006801:Humans; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D017433:Protein Structure, Secondary / Q000502:physiology; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary / Q000502:physiology; D017260:Receptor-CD3 Complex, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000596:Amino Acids; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D017260:Receptor-CD3 Complex, Antigen, T-Cell