The antigen receptor expressed by mature T cells has been described as a disulfide-linked alpha/beta or gamma/delta heterodimer noncovalently associated with CD3, a complex of transmembrane proteins that communicates signals from the T cell receptor (TCR) to the cell interior. Studies suggest that all component chains must assemble intracellularly before surface expression can be achieved. We described, however, a CD4+/CD8+ transformed murine thymocyte, KKF, that expresses surface TCR-beta chains in the absence of gamma, delta, and alpha proteins; these beta chains are only weakly associated with CD3-epsilon and CD3-zeta. Furthermore, KKF responds differently to stimulation through TCR-beta and CD3-epsilon, a functional dissociation that has been ascribed to a CD4+/CD8+ subpopulation of normal thymocytes. KKF's unique TCR structure may offer an explanation for the functional anomalies observed.
Article|
October 01 1991
Surface expression of a T cell receptor beta (TCR-beta) chain in the absence of TCR-alpha, -delta, and -gamma proteins.
J A Punt,
J A Punt
Department of Pathology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia 19104.
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R T Kubo,
R T Kubo
Department of Pathology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia 19104.
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T Saito,
T Saito
Department of Pathology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia 19104.
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T H Finkel,
T H Finkel
Department of Pathology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia 19104.
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S Kathiresan,
S Kathiresan
Department of Pathology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia 19104.
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K J Blank,
K J Blank
Department of Pathology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia 19104.
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Y Hashimoto
Y Hashimoto
Department of Pathology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia 19104.
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J A Punt
Department of Pathology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia 19104.
R T Kubo
Department of Pathology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia 19104.
T Saito
Department of Pathology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia 19104.
T H Finkel
Department of Pathology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia 19104.
S Kathiresan
Department of Pathology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia 19104.
K J Blank
Department of Pathology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia 19104.
Y Hashimoto
Department of Pathology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia 19104.
Online ISSN: 1540-9538
Print ISSN: 0022-1007
J Exp Med (1991) 174 (4): 775–783.
Citation
J A Punt, R T Kubo, T Saito, T H Finkel, S Kathiresan, K J Blank, Y Hashimoto; Surface expression of a T cell receptor beta (TCR-beta) chain in the absence of TCR-alpha, -delta, and -gamma proteins.. J Exp Med 1 October 1991; 174 (4): 775–783. doi: https://doi.org/10.1084/jem.174.4.775
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