Conserved biophysical compatibility among the highly variable germline-encoded regions shapes TCR-MHC interactions.

ABSTRACT: T cells are critically important components of the adaptive immune system primarily responsible for identifying and responding to pathogenic challenges. This recognition of pathogens is driven by the interaction between membrane-bound T cell receptors (TCRs) and antigenic peptides presented on major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules. The formation of the TCR-peptide-MHC complex (TCR-pMHC) involves interactions among germline-encoded and hypervariable amino acids. Germline-encoded and hypervariable regions can form contacts critical for complex formation, but only interactions between germline-encoded contacts are likely to be shared across many of all the possible productive TCR-pMHC complexes. Despite this, experimental investigation of these interactions have focused on only a s

SUBMITTER: Boughter CT 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10631762 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature