Mechanisms for size-dependent protein segregation at immune synapses assessed with molecular rulers.

ABSTRACT: Immunological synapses are specialized intercellular contacts formed by several types of immune cells in contact with target cells or antigen-presenting cells. A late-stage immune synapse is commonly a bulls-eye pattern of immune cell receptor-ligand pairs surrounded by integrin complexes. Based on crystal structures, the intermembrane distance would be ∼15 nm for many immune cell receptor-ligand pairs, but ∼40 nm for integrin-ligand pairs. Close proximity of these two classes of intermembrane bonds would require significant membrane bending and such proteins can segregate according to their size, which may be key for receptor triggering. However, tools available to evaluate the intermembrane organization of the synapse are limited. Here, we present what we believe to be a novel approach t

SUBMITTER: Alakoskela JM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3123984 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature