Six chains of the human T cell antigen receptor.CD3 complex are necessary and sufficient for processing the receptor heterodimer to the cell surface.

G R Carson,R E Kuestner,A Ahmed,C L Pettey,M F Concino

doi:10.1016/s0021-9258(20)89532-5

G R Carson, R E Kuestner + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1016/s0021-9258(20)89532-5

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Abstract

The T cell antigen receptor (TCR) plays a key role in the process of antigen recognition. It is a complex of at least seven peptide chains (alpha beta gamma delta epsilon zeta-zeta). It is found on the surface of mature T cells and functions in antigen binding in the presence of the major histocompatibility complex. It has been known for some time that physical associations between the CD3 proteins and the TCR chains are essential for efficient transport of either component to the surface of T cells. For example, T cells that lack either the alpha, beta, or delta chains synthesize partial complexes that are eventually degraded. cDNAs encoding the six chains of receptor have become available recently. We have used transfection techniques to generate a panel of Chinese hamster ovary cells that contain partial receptor complexes of known composition and also cells that express all six subunits of the TCR.CD3 complex. Cells in this panel were analyzed for the ability to form alpha-beta heterodimers and also an ability to transport the synthesized chains to the plasma membrane. These studies have allowed us to define the minimum requirements for TCR.CD3 expression on the cell surface.

Highlights

Six Chains ofthe Human T Cell Antigen ReceptoreCD3 ComplexAre Necessary and Sufficient for Processing the Receptor Heterodimer to the Cell Surface*
In mutated T cells, both CD3 and T cell antigen receptor (TCR) disappeared from the cell surface when expression of TCR /3 chain was lost [2]
Mutant murine T cells selected for low CD3 expression were isolated and found to lack CD3{ message

Summary

Present address

To study the question further, and determinifeproper assembly of the complex would allow transport to the plasma membrane, we set out todevelop a panel of Cap clones which expressedtwo or three chains of the CD3 complex These clones were designed to help identify the effect of various plasmic RNAfrom each sample were loaded on a formaldehyde CD3chainsonTCR assembly and processing in a nonagarose gel and subjected to electrophoresis under denaturing condi- lymphoid cell. The absence of any CD3 subunit,or TCR a and @ chains, washed once with phosphate-buffered saline and resuspended in flow results in no detectable receptor on ctheell surface.

RESULTS

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DISCUSSION