| First Author | Yamasaki S | Year | 2006 |
| Journal | Nat Immunol | Volume | 7 |
| Issue | 1 | Pages | 67-75 |
| PubMed ID | 16327787 | Mgi Jnum | J:112567 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:3662788 | Doi | 10.1038/ni1290 |
| Citation | Yamasaki S, et al. (2006) Mechanistic basis of pre-T cell receptor-mediated autonomous signaling critical for thymocyte development. Nat Immunol 7(1):67-75 |
| abstractText | The pre-T cell receptor (TCR) is crucial for early T cell development and is proposed to function in a ligand-independent way. However, the molecular mechanism underlying the autonomous signals remains elusive. Here we show that the pre-TCR complex spontaneously formed oligomers. Specific charged residues in the extracellular domain of the pre-TCR alpha-chain mediated formation of the oligomers in vitro. Alteration of these residues eliminated the ability of the pre-TCR alpha-chain to support pre-TCR signaling in vivo. Dimerization but not raft localization of CD3epsilon was sufficient to simulate pre-TCR function and promote beta-selection. These results suggest that the pre-TCR complex can deliver its signal autonomously through oligomerization of the pre-TCR alpha-chain mediated by charged residues. |
