Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

T-cell antigen receptor genes and T-cell recognition

A Corrigendum to this article was published on 20 October 1988

Abstract

The four distinct T-cell antigen receptor polypeptides (α, β, γ, δ) form two different heterodimers (α:β and γ:δ) that are very similar to immunoglobulins in primary sequence, gene organization and modes of rearrangement. Whereas antibodies have both soluble and membrane forms that can bind to antigens alone, T-cell receptors exist only on cell surfaces and recognize antigen fragments only when they are embedded in major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules. Patterns of diversity in T-cell receptor genes together with structural features of immunoglobulin and MHC molecules suggest a model for how this recognition might occur. This view of T-cell recognition has implications for how the receptors might be selected in the thymus and how they (and immunoglobulins) may have arisen during evolution.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Rent or buy this article

Prices vary by article type

from$1.95

to$39.95

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

References

  1. Katz, D. H., Hamaoka, T. & Benacerraf, B. J. exp. Med. 137, 1405–1418 (1973).

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  2. Rosenthal, A. S. & Shevach, E. M. J. exp. Med. 138, 1194–1212 (1973).

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  3. Zinkemagel, R. M. & Doherty, P. C. Nature 248, 701–702 (1974).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  4. Melchers, F. & Andersson, J. A. Rev. Immunol. 4, 13–36 (1986).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Hamaoka, T. & Ono, S. A. Rev. Immunol. 4, 167–204 (1986).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Tonegawa, S. Nature 302, 575–581 (1983).

    ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Eisen, H. N. Immunology (Harper & Row, New York, 1980).

    Google Scholar 

  8. Steward, M. W. & Steensgaard, J. Antibody Affinity: Thermodynamic Aspects and Biological Significance (CRC, Bocca Raton, Florida, 1983).

    Google Scholar 

  9. Amzel, L. M. & Poljak, R. J. A. Rev. Biochem. 48, 961–997 (1979).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Davies, D. R. & Metzger, H. A. Rev. Immun. 1, 87–117 (1983).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Amit, A. G., Mariuzza, R. A., Phillips, S. E. V. & Poljak, R. J. Science 233, 747–753 (1986).

    ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Colman, P. M. et al. Nature 326, 358–363 (1987).

    ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Sheriff, S. et al. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 84, 8075–8079 (1987).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Segal, D. M. et al. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 71, 4298–4302 (1974).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Amzel, L. M., Poljak, R. J., Saul, F., Varga, J. M. & Richards, F. F. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 71, 1427–1431 (1974).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Allison, J. P., MacIntyre, B. W. & Block, D. J. J. Immun. 129, 2293–2300 (1982).

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Haskins, K. et al. J. exp. Med. 157, 1149–1169 (1983).

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Meuer, S. C. et al. J. exp. Med. 157, 705–719 (1983).

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Samelson, L. E., Germain, R. N. & Schwartz, R. H. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A 80, 6972–6976 (1983).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Kaye, J., Porcelli, S., Tite, J., Jones, B. & Janeway Jr, C. A. J. exp. Med. 158, 836–856 (1983).

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Acuto, O. et al. Cell 34, 717–726 (1983).

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Kappler, J. et al. Cell 35, 295–302 (1983).

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Staerz, U. D., Pasternack, M. S., Klein, J. R., Benedetto, J. E. & Beban, M. J. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 81, 1799–1803 (1984).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Clevers, H., Alarcon, B., Wileman, T. & Terhorst, C. A. Rev. Immun. 6, 629–662 (1988).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Hedrick, S. M., Cohen, D. I., Nielsen, E. A. & Davis, M. M. Nature 308, 149–153 (1984).

    ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Hedrick, S. M., Nielsen, E. A., Kavaler, J., Cohen, D. I. & Davis, M. M. Nature 308, 153–158 (1984).

    ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Yangi, Y. et al. Nature 308, 145–149 (1984).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  28. Chien, Y. et al. Nature 312, 31–35 (1984).

    ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Saito, H. et al. Nature 312, 36–40 (1984).

    ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Sim, G. K. et al. Nature 312, 771–775 (1984).

    ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Dembic, Z. et al. Nature 320, 232–238 (1986).

    ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Saito, T. et al. Nature 325, 125–130 (1987).

    ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Hood, L., Steinmetz, M. & Malissen, B. A. Rev. Immun. 1, 529–568 (1983).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Benacerraf, B. J. Immun. 120, 1809–1812 (1978).

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Shimonkevitz, R., Kappler, J. W., Marrack, P. & Grey, H. M. J. exp. Med. 158, 303–316 (1983).

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Babbitt, B. P., Allen, P. M., Matsueda, G., Haber, E. & Unanue, E. R. Nature 317, 359–361 (1985).

    ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Buus, S. et al. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 83, 3968–3971 (1986).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. Townsend, A. R. M. et al. Cell 44, 959–968 (1986).

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. Guillet, J-G., Lai, M-Z., Briner, T. J., Smith, J. A. & Gefter, M. L. Nature 324, 260–263 (1986).

    ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  40. Bjorkman, P. J. et al. Nature 329, 506–512 (1987).

    ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  41. Bjorkman, P. J. et al. Nature 329, 512–518 (1987).

    ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  42. Brown, J. H. et al. Nature 332, 845–850.

  43. Littman, D. R. A. Rev. Immun. 5, 561–584 (1987).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  44. Marrack, P. et al. J. exp. Med. 158, 1077–1091 (1983).

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  45. Gabert, J. et al. Cell 50, 545–554 (1987).

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  46. Sleckman, B. P. et al. Nature 328, 351–353 (1987).

    ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  47. Dembic, Z. et al. Nature 320, 232–238 (1986).

    ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  48. Kronenberg, M., Siu, G., Hood, L. E. & Shastri, N. A. Rev. Immun. 4, 529–591 (1986).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  49. Davis, M. M. Rev. Immun. 3, 537–560 (1985).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  50. Saito, H. et al. Nature 309, 757–762 (1984).

    ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  51. Chien, Y. et al. Nature 327, 677–682 (1987).

    ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  52. Brenner, M. B. et al. Nature 322, 145–149 (1986).

    ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  53. Bank, I. et al. Nature 322, 179–181 (1986).

    ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  54. Pardoll, D. M. et al. Nature 326, 79–81 (1987).

    ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  55. Stingl, G. et al. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 84, 2430–2434 (1987).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  56. Kuziel, W. A. et al. Nature 328, 263–266 (1987).

    ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  57. Hayday, A. C. et al. Cell 40, 259–269 (1985).

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  58. Chien, Y. et al. Nature 330, 722–727 (1987).

    ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  59. Patten, P. et al. Nature 312, 40–46 (1984).

    ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  60. Barth, R. et al. Nature 316, 517–523 (1985).

    ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  61. Arden, B., Klotz, J., Sui, G. & Hood, L. Nature 316, 783–787 (1985).

    ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  62. Becker, D. M. et al. Nature 317, 430–434 (1985).

    ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  63. Wu, T. T. & Kabat, E. A. J. exp. Med. 132, 211–250 (1970).

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  64. Kabat, E. A., Wu, T. T., Reid-Miller, M., Perry, H. M. & Gottesman, K. S. Sequences of Proteins of Immunological Interest (NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, 1987).

    Google Scholar 

  65. van den Elsen, P. et al. Nature 312, 413–418 (1984).

    ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  66. Gold, D. P. et al. Nature 321, 431–434 (1986).

    ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  67. Krissansen, G. W., Owen, M. J., Verbi, W. & Crumpton, M. J. EMBO J. 5, 1799–1808 (1986).

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  68. Weissman, A. M. et al. Science 239, 1018–1021 (1988).

    ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  69. Raulet, D. H., Garrnan, R. D., Saito, H. & Tonegawa, S. Nature 314, 103–107 (1985).

    ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  70. Samelson, L. E. et al. Nature 315, 765–768 (1985).

    ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  71. Snodgrass, H. R., Dembic, Z., Steinmetz, M. & von Boehmer, H. Nature 315, 232–233 (1985).

    ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  72. Elliott, J. R., Rock, E. P., Davis, M. M. & Chien, Y. Nature 331, 627–631 (1988).

    ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  73. Akira, S., Okazaki, K. & Sakano, H. Science 238, 1134–1138 (1987).

    ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  74. Yancopoulos, G. D., Blackwell, T. K., Suh, H., Hood, L. & Alt, F. W. Cell 44, 251–259 (1986).

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  75. Fujimoto, S. & Yamagishi, H. Nature 327, 242–243 (1987).

    ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  76. Okazaki, K., Davis, D. D. & Sakano, H. Cell 49, 477–485 (1987).

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  77. Lai, E., Barth, R. K. & Hood, L. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A 84, 3846–3850 (1987).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  78. Lee, N. E. & Davis, M. M. J. Immun. 140, 1665–1675 (1988).

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  79. Malissen, M. et al. Nature 319, 28–33 (1986).

    ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  80. Iwashima, M., Green, A., Davis, M. M. & Chien, Y. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A (in the press).

  81. Alt, F. W. & Baltimore, D. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 79, 4118–4122 (1982).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  82. Lindsten, T., Lee, N. E. & Davis, M. M. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 48, 7639–7643 (1987).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  83. Chou, H. S., Nelson, C. A., Godambe, S. A., Chaplin, D. D. & Loh, D. Y. Science 238, 545–548 (1987).

    ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  84. Behlke, M. A. et al. Science 229, 566–570 (1985).

    ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  85. Behlke, M. A., Chou, H. S., Huppi, K. & Loh, D. Y. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 83, 767–771 (1986).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  86. Kotzin, B. L., Barr, V. L. & Palmer, E. Science 229, 167–171 (1985).

    ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  87. Noonan, D. J. et al. J. exp. Med. 163, 644–653 (1986).

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  88. Iwamoto, A. et al. J. exp. Med. 163, 1203–1212 (1986).

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  89. Garman, R. D., Doherty, P. J. & Raulet, D. H. Cell 45, 733–742 (1986).

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  90. Heilig, J. S. & Tonegawa, S. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 84, 8070–8074 (1987).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  91. Strauss, C. et al. Science (1987).

  92. Lindsten, T., Fowlkes, B. J., Samelson, L. E., Davis, M. M. & Chien, Y. J. exp. Med. 166, 761–775 (1987).

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  93. Siu, G. et al. Nature 311, 344–350 (1984).

    ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  94. Luria, S., Gross, G., Horowitz, M. & Givol, D. EMBO J. 6, 3307–3312 (1987).

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  95. Quertermous, T. et al. Nature 322, 184–187 (1986).

    ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  96. Winoto, A. et al. Nature 324, 679–682 (1986).

    ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  97. Goverman, J. et al. Cell 40, 859–867 (1985).

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  98. Novotny, J., Tonegawa, S., Saito, H., Kranz, D. M. & Eisen, H. N. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 83, 742–746 (1986).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  99. Chothia, C., Boswell, D. R. & Lesk, A. M. Cell (submitted).

  100. Chothia, C. & Lesk, A. M. J. molec. Biol. 196, 901–917 (1987).

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  101. Novotny, J. & Haber, E. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 82, 4592–4596 (1985).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  102. Chothia, C., Novotny, J., Bruccoleri, R. & Karplus, M. J. molec. Biol. 186, 651–663 (1985).

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  103. Kappler, J. W. et al. Cell 49, 263–271 (1987).

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  104. Fink, P. J., Matis, L. A., McElligott, D. L., Bookman, M. & Hedrick, S. M. Nature 321, 219–226 (1986).

    ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  105. Heber-Katz, E. et al. J. exp. Med. 155, 1086–1099 (1982).

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  106. Mengle-Gaw, L., Conner, S., McDevitt, H. O. & Fathman, C. G. J. exp. Med. 160, 1184–1194 (1984).

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  107. Saito, T. & Germain, R. N. Nature 329, 256–259 (1987).

    ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  108. Hedrick, S. M., et al. Science 239, 1541–1544 (1988).

    ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  109. Acha-Orbea, H. et al. Cell (in the press).

  110. Matis, L. A., Cron, R. & Bluestone, J. A. Nature 330, 262–264 (1987).

    ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  111. Sakano, H., Huppi, K., Heinrich, G. & Tonegawa, S. Nature 280, 228–294 (1979).

    Google Scholar 

  112. Hood, L. E., Hunkapiller, T. & Kraig, E. in Modern Cell Biology (ed. MacIntosh, J. R.) 305–328 (Liss, New York, 1983).

    Google Scholar 

  113. Johnson, P. & Williams, A. F. Nature 323, 74–76 (1986).

    ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  114. Nakauchi, H., Shinkai, Y. & Okumura, K. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 84, 4210–4214 (1987).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  115. Chang, C.-H. et al. Biochemistry 24, 4890–4897 (1985).

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  116. Clark, S. J., Jefferies, W. A., Barclay, A. N., Gagnon, J. & Williams, A. F. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 84, 1649–1653 (1987).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  117. Goldstein, S. A. N. & Mescher, M. F. J. Immun. (in the press).

  118. Schwartz, R. H. in Immunogenetics (ed. Paul, W. E.) 91–151 (Raven, New York, 1984).

    Google Scholar 

  119. Marrack, P. & Kappler, J. Science 238, 1073–1079 (1987).

    ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  120. Jerne, N. Eur. J. Immun. 1, 1–9 (1971).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  121. Garman, R. D., Ko, J-L., Vulpe, C. D. & Raulet, D. H. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 83, 3987–3991 (1986).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  122. Suh, S. W. et al. Proteins 1, 74–80 (1986).

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  123. Kappler, J. W., Staerz, U., White, J. & Marrack, P. C. Nature 332, 35–40 (1988).

    ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  124. MacDonald, H. R. et al. Nature 332, 40–45 (1988).

    ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  125. Pullen, A., Marrack, P. & Kappler, J. (in preparation).

  126. Marrack, P. & Kappler, J. Nature 332, 840–843 (1988).

    ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  127. Katz, M. E. & Janeway, C. A. J. Immunol. 134, 2064–2070 (1985).

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  128. Webb, S. R. & Sprent, J. Intern. Rev. Immunol. 1, 151–182 (1986).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Davis, M., Bjorkman, P. T-cell antigen receptor genes and T-cell recognition. Nature 334, 395–402 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1038/334395a0

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/334395a0

This article is cited by

Comments

By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.

Search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing