Immunoglobulin-like nature of the α-chain of a human T-cell antigen/MHC receptor (original) (raw)

Nature volume 312, pages 65–67 (1984)Cite this article

Abstract

Although the receptor with which T cells bind specific antigen can, like immunoglobulin, distinguish between antigens which differ only slightly in structure, it is unique in recognizing antigen only in conjunction with one of the self proteins of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC restriction)1–4. The receptor was identified and characterized in mouse and man by using monoclonal antibodies to receptor idiotypes5–7, and consists of two disulphide-linked polypeptides, an acidic _α_-chain and a neutral to slightly basic _β_-chain5,8,9. Peptide maps have shown that, like immunoglobulin, both chains vary for receptors of different specificities10–12. T-cell-derived cDNA clones have recently been identified in mouse and man encoding immunoglobulin-like molecules13–15. These were identified as derived from _β_-chain genes through a partial N-terminal protein sequence of the _β_-chain isolated from a human T-cell tumour16. We have now purified the _α_- and _β_-chains of the receptor of the human T-cell leukaemia line HPB-MLT, and have determined the amino acid sequence of several tryptic peptides derived from each chain. Our results further confirm that the previously reported cDNA clones encode _β_-chains. The sequence of the _α_-chain peptides identify this as another immunoglobulin-like polypeptide chain. Particularly striking was an _α_-chain peptide with high homology to the conserved portion of the immunoglobulin J segment and T-cell receptor _β_-chains. Surprisingly, the _α_-chain peptides show little similarity to the sequence predicted by two overlapping putative murine _α_-chain cDNA clones17.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Basic Immunology, Department of Medicine, National Jewish Hospital and Research Center, 3800 E. Colfax Avenue, Denver, Colorado, 80206, USA
    Charles H. Hannum, John W. Kappler, Philippa Marrack & John H. Freed
  2. The Salk Institute, La Jolla, California, 92112, USA
    Ian S. Trowbridge

Authors

  1. Charles H. Hannum
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  2. John W. Kappler
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  3. Ian S. Trowbridge
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  4. Philippa Marrack
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  5. John H. Freed
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Hannum, C., Kappler, J., Trowbridge, I. et al. Immunoglobulin-like nature of the _α_-chain of a human T-cell antigen/MHC receptor.Nature 312, 65–67 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1038/312065a0

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