Unique features of the pre-T-cell receptor alpha-chain: not just a surrogate.
The pre-T-cell receptor (pre-TCR) has a crucial role in the normal development of alphabeta T cells. Different views have emerged concerning the structure and function of the pre-TCR. This molecular complex can be viewed as a variant of the alphabeta-TCR in which the pre-TCR alpha-chain that is covalently associated with the TCR beta-chain is a 'surrogate' TCR alpha-chain. Alternatively, the unique structure of the pre-TCR might be associated with a unique function, owing to evolutionary selection of a pre-TCR alpha-chain that has different capabilities from the TCR alpha-chain. As described here, I consider that experimental evidence favours the latter view.
Harvard Medical School, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 44 Binney Street, Boston, MA 02115, USA. Harald_Von_Boehmer@dfci.harvard.edu
Harald
H
von Boehmer
D000483:Alleles; D000818:Animals; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta