Molecular interactions: stiff or floppy (or somewhere in between?).
Recognition of MHC and MHC-like molecules by both natural killer (NK) and T cell receptors (TCR) reveals remarkable degeneracy. The interaction of the NKG2D NK receptor with several MHC I-like ligands has now been analyzed thermodynamically by McFarland and Strong, who suggest that a "rigid adaptation" mechanism governs such crossreactivity. This contrasts with "induced fit" that accounts for TCR adaptation to multiple MHCp ligands.
Margulies
David H
DH
Molecular Biology Section, Laboratory of Immunology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Building 10, Room 11N311, 10 Center Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
D006649:Histocompatibility Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology*; D011485:Protein Binding; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D013816:Thermodynamics
D006649:Histocompatibility Antigens; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell