Organization of the resting TCR in nanoscale oligomers

01.01.2013

Schamel WW, Alarcón B.

Immunol Rev. 2013;251(1):13-20

Immunol Rev            online article

Despite of the low affinity of the T?cell antigen receptor (TCR) for its ligand, the pMHC, T cells are very sensitive to their antigen. This paradox can be resolved upon the discovery that the TCR is organized into pre?existing nanoclusters increasing the avidity of the TCR?pMHC interaction. This review in part summarizes previous work based on the joint BIOSS project by Schamel and Schubert. Up to approximately 20 TCRs become tightly apposed in these nanoclusters, often in a linear manner. The association of TCRs into nanoclusters calls for a revision of the TCR triggering models based on pMHC?induced TCR clustering.