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Subgroups of Tcr α chains and correlation with T-cell function

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Abstract

T-cell receptor (Tcr) α chains are classified into four subgroups (I, II, III, and miscellaneous) based on the amino acid residues at positions 61 and 62. Subgroup I has Gly Phe at these positions, subgroup II has Arg Phe, subgroup III has Arg Leu, and subgroup miscellaneous has several other combinations. Variability plots for subgroups I, II, and III sequences show higher values around positions 93–103, 105, 108, 111, 113, and 115, suggesting that these positions may interact with the processed antigen molecules. Smaller peaks are present at various other regions which may bind the major histocompatibility complex class I or II molecules. The patterns of variability within one subgroup are similar for all species, for human alone, and for mouse alone. These subgroup patterns appear much less complicated than patterns for sequences in all subgroups taken together, implying that subgroups may be related to Tcr functions. Among 83 mouse chains, 15 are from cytotoxic cells and 40 from helper cells. Of the 15 from cytotoxic cells, 11, 2, 0, and 2 are in subgroups I, II, III, and miscellaneous; and of the 40 from helper cells, 9, 16, 12, ans 3 are in subgroups I, II, III, and miscellaneous, respectively. Thus, a correlation between sequence and function of Tcr α chains seems possible.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Biological and Medical Research, Argonne National Laboratory, 60439, Argonne, IL, USA

    Marianne Schiffer

  2. Office of the Director, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, and Departments of Microbiology, Genetics and Development and Neurology, and the Cancer Center, Institute of Cancer Research, Columbia University, 701 West 168th Street, 10032, New York, NY, USA

    Elvin A. Kabat

  3. Departments of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Cell Biology, Engineering Sciences and Applied Mathematics, and Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University, 60201, Evanston, IL, USA

    Tai Te Wu

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Schiffer, M., Kabat, E.A. & Wu, T.T. Subgroups of Tcr α chains and correlation with T-cell function. Immunogenetics 35, 224–234 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00166827

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