First Author | Bäckström BT | Year | 1998 |
Journal | Science | Volume | 281 |
Issue | 5378 | Pages | 835-8 |
PubMed ID | 9694657 | Mgi Jnum | J:124314 |
Mgi Id | MGI:3721323 | Doi | 10.1126/science.281.5378.835 |
Citation | Backstrom BT, et al. (1998) Positive selection through a motif in the alphabeta T cell receptor. Science 281(5378):835-8 |
abstractText | The two lineages of T cells, alphabeta and gammadelta, differ in their developmental requirements: only alphabeta T cells require major histocompatibility complex recognition, a process known as positive selection. The alphabeta T cell receptor (TCR), but not its gammadelta counterpart, contains a motif within the alpha-chain connecting peptide domain (alpha-CPM) that has been conserved over the last 500 million years. In transgenic mice expressing an alphabeta TCR lacking the alpha-CPM, thymocytes were blocked in positive selection but could undergo negative selection. Thus, the alpha-CPM seems to participate in the generation of signals required for positive selection. |