| First Author | Degermann S | Year | 1999 |
| Journal | J Exp Med | Volume | 190 |
| Issue | 9 | Pages | 1357-62 |
| PubMed ID | 10544207 | Mgi Jnum | J:58321 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:1347211 | Doi | 10.1084/jem.190.9.1357 |
| Citation | Degermann S, et al. (1999) Impaired NK1.1 T cell development in mice transgenic for a T cell receptor beta chain lacking the large, solvent-exposed cbeta FG loop. J Exp Med 190(9):1357-62 |
| abstractText | A striking feature of the T cell receptor (TCR) beta chain structure is the large FG loop that protrudes freely into the solvent on the external face of the Cbeta domain. We have already shown that a transgene-encoded Vbeta8.2(+) TCR beta chain lacking the complete Cbeta FG loop supports normal development and function of conventional alpha/beta T cells. Thus, the FG loop is not absolutely necessary for TCR signaling. However, further analysis has revealed that a small population of alpha/beta T cells coexpressing NK1.1 are severely depleted in these transgenic mice. The few remaining NK1.1 T cells have a normal phenotype but express very low levels of TCR. We find that the TCR Vbeta8.2(+) chain lacking the Cbeta FG loop cannot pair efficiently with the invariant Valpha14-Jalpha281 TCR alpha chain commonly expressed by this T cell family. Consequently, fewer NK1.1 T cells develop in these mice. Our results suggest that expression of the Valpha14(+) TCR alpha chain is particularly sensitive to TCR-beta conformation. Development of NK1.1 T cells appears to need a TCR-beta conformation dependent on the presence of the Cbeta loop that is not necessarily required for assembly and function of TCRs on most alpha/beta T cells. |
