Exploring Conformational Change of the T cell Receptor/CD3 Complex Through Mutations
Embedded Files
About Me
I’m a biology (biochemistry emphasis) and music major from St. Louis, MO. During my time at Macalester, I’ve been a part of the symphony orchestra, chamber ensembles, and wind symphony. I’ve also been a member of Mac’s student government as the health and wellness liaison for the past three years, where I’ve expanded my interest in public health. I also studied abroad at the University of Edinburgh. After graduation, I’m hoping to work as a clinical research assistant and eventually apply to MD-PhD programs, with an ultimate goal of combining my passions for clinical research and public health.
Abstract
Activation of the T cell receptor (TCR) plays a key role in the adaptive immune response, but the mechanism is poorly understood. Previous studies have identified two areas of interest: the DE loop and C strand in the constant ɑ (Cɑ) domain of the TCR. This study examines two mutant OTII cells: DE2 (DE loop mutation) and C4 (C-strand mutation). The activation levels of these cells were compared to wild-type (WT) OTII cells after responding to MHC class II antigen-presenting cells (APC) loaded with three different antigenic peptides (IAb-3K, IAb-pE336Q, and IAb-pOVA). Conformational change and surface protein expression were both assessed through a pull-down assay and flow cytometry. Analysis of these mutations reveals a difference in the induction of proline-rich sequence (PRS) exposure through CD3ε conformational change compared to WT cells, suggesting that further study of these proteins could be useful to improve understanding of TCR activation.
Page updated
Report abuse