T cell receptors
T cell receptors are proteins on the surface membrane of T lymphocytes, capable of specific recognition and binding with a peptide (or "processed antigen") associated with a major histocompatibility (MH) (human leucocyte antigen (HLA) in human).
The molecular synthesis of the T cell receptor (TR) chains includes, as that of the immunoglobulin (IG) chains, complex mechanisms such as DNA rearrangements, nucleotide insertions and deletions, but in contrast to the IG, there are no somatic hypermutations. One individual potentially produces more than 1012 different TR. The limiting factor is not the diversity mechanisms but the number of T cells that an organism can produce.
IMGT-ONTOLOGY
- antigen receptor
- T cell receptor
IMGT Education
- Nomenclature and overview of the human T cell receptor genes
- Différenciation des lymphocytes T (in French)
- Déficits immunitaires primaires : les mécanismes moléculaires (in French)
- Recombination signal logos
IMGT Repertoire
- Recombination signals of the human IG and TR V, D and J genes
- IMGT 2D and 3D representations, provides examples of 2D (Collier de Perles) and 3D representations of T cell receptors.
- Reagents monoclonal antibodies, provides information on commercially available monoclonal antibodies to T cell receptors.