Identification of a putative second T-cell receptor

Framework monoclonal antibodies have identified a population of human lymphocytes that express the T3 glycoprotein but not the T-cell receptor (TCR) alpha- and beta-subunits. Chemical crosslinking experiments reveal that these lymphocytes express novel T3-associated polypeptides, one of which appears to be the product of the T gamma gene. The other polypeptide may represent a fourth TCR subunit, designated T delta.     

Durchlaufende Dünnschicht-Chromatographie

Summary The scope of thin layer chromatography has been extended by developing a simple arrangement which forces solvent fronts to run over. The method was successfully applied to the separation of closely interrelated and otherwise hardly separable materials⁵.

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Wir danken den HerrenE. Lüscher undA. Manzetti für wertvolle Anregungen und ihre reges Interesse an dieser Arbeit. Im übrigen danken wir für eine Unterstützung durch Arbeitsbeschaffungskredite des Bundes und eine Studienbeihilfe vom Kultusministerium Baden-Württemberg.     

Two forms of the T-cell receptor gamma protein found on peripheral blood cytotoxic T lymphocytes

The T-cell receptor (TCR) gamma polypeptide is expressed associated with CD3 (T3) on the surface of normal human peripheral blood lymphocytes. These cells function as non-MHC-restricted cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL)and thus may play an important role in host immune defence. The TCR gamma polypeptide occurs as a dimer in at least two molecular forms based on the absence or presence of disulphide linkage. These forms use TCR gamma polypeptides with strikingly different peptide backbone sizes.     

Recognition of cluster of differentiation 1 antigens by human CD4-CD8-cytolytic T lymphocytes

Human cluster-of-differentiation 1 (CD1) is a family of cell surface glycoproteins of unknown function expressed on immature thymocytes, epidermal Langerhans cells and a subset of B lymphocytes. Three homologous proteins, CD1a, b and c, have been defined serologically, and the CD1 gene locus on human chromosome 1 contains five potential CD1 genes. Analysis of the predicted amino-acid sequences of CD1 molecules reveals a low but significant level of homology to major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I and class II molecules, and, like MHC class I molecules, CD1 molecules are associated non-covalently with beta 2-microglobulin. These structural similarities to known antigen-presenting molecules, together with the expression of CD1 on cells capable of antigen presentation, suggest a role for CD1 molecules in antigen recognition by T cells. Here we demonstrate the specific recognition of CD1a by a CD4-CD8- alpha beta T-cell receptor (TCR) expressing cytolytic T lymphocyte (CTL) line and the specific recognition of CD1c by a CD4-CD8- gamma delta TCR CTL line. The interaction of CD1-specific CTLs with CD1+ target cells appeared to involve the CD3-TCR complex, and did not show evidence of MHC restriction. These results suggest that for a subset of T cells, CD1 molecules serve a function analogous to that of MHC class I and II molecules.     

Genome-wide association scan identifies a colorectal cancer susceptibility locus on 11q23 and replicates risk loci at 8q24 and 18q21

In a genome-wide association study to identify loci associated with colorectal cancer (CRC) risk, we genotyped 555,510 SNPs in 1,012 early-onset Scottish CRC cases and 1,012 controls (phase 1). In phase 2, we genotyped the 15,008 highest-ranked SNPs in 2,057 Scottish cases and 2,111 controls. We then genotyped the five highest-ranked SNPs from the joint phase 1 and 2 analysis in 14,500 cases and 13,294 controls from seven populations, and identified a previously unreported association, rs3802842 on 11q23 (OR = 1.1; P = 5.8 x 10(-10)), showing population differences in risk. We also replicated and fine-mapped associations at 8q24 (rs7014346; OR = 1.19; P = 8.6 x 10(-26)) and 18q21 (rs4939827; OR = 1.2; P = 7.8 x 10(-28)). Risk was greater for rectal than for colon cancer for rs3802842 (P < 0.008) and rs4939827 (P < 0.009). Carrying all six possible risk alleles yielded OR = 2.6 (95% CI = 1.75-3.89) for CRC. These findings extend our understanding of the role of common genetic variation in CRC etiology.     

Model for signal sequence recognition from amino-acid sequence of 54K subunit of signal recognition particle

Protein targeting to the endoplasmic reticulum in mammalian cells is catalysed by signal recognition particle (SRP). Cross-linking experiments have shown that the subunit of relative molecular mass 54,000 (Mr 54K; SRP54) interacts directly with signal sequences as they emerge from the ribosome. Here we present the sequence of a complementary DNA clone of SRP54 which predicts a protein that contains a putative GTP-binding domain and an unusually methionine-rich domain. The properties of this latter domain suggest that it contains the signal sequence binding site. A previously uncharacterized Escherichia coli protein has strong homology to both domains. Closely homologous GTP-binding domains are also found in the alpha-subunit of the SRP receptor (SR alpha, docking protein) in the endoplasmic reticulum membrane and in a second E. coli protein, ftsY, which resembles SR alpha. Recent work has shown that SR alpha is a GTP-binding protein and that GTP is required for the release of SRP from the signal sequence and the ribosome on targeting to the endoplasmic reticulum membrane. We propose that SRP54 and SR alpha use GTP in sequential steps of the targeting reaction and that essential features of such a pathway are conserved from bacteria to mammals.     

A functional T3 molecule associated with a novel heterodimer on the surface of immature human thymocytes

The known T-cell receptors (TCRs) involved in the recognition of antigen and major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules are glycoproteins comprised of polymorphic disulphide-linked alpha- and beta-chains. The genes encoding these chains are homologous to immunoglobulin genes and consist of V (variable), J (joining) and C (constant) regions that rearrange during development. TCRs are expressed relatively late in thymocyte development and only in association with an invariant molecular complex of proteins termed T3. Immature thymocytes do not express the TCR-T3 complex but do express messenger RNA encoding a third rearranging T-cell receptor-like gene, termed T gamma. Here we report a clone of normal immature T4-T8- human thymocytes, designated CII, which does not express mature mRNA for T alpha or T beta genes, but does express high levels of T gamma mRNA. This clone also expresses high levels of surface T3, and antibodies to T3 induce immunologically relevant functions in CII cells. Immunoprecipitation of CII surface-labelled proteins with anti-T3 co-precipitates a T3 molecular complex together with two additional and novel peptides of relative molecular mass (Mr), 44,000 (44K) and 62,000 (62K).