Structural Conservation and Effects of Alterations in T Cell Receptor Transmembrane Interfaces

T cell receptors (TCRs) are octameric assemblies of type-I membrane proteins in which a receptor heterodimer (αβ, δγ, or pre-Tαβ) is associated with three dimeric signaling modules (CD3δε, CD3γε, and ζζ) at the T cell or pre-T cell surface. In the human αβTCR, the α and β transmembrane (TM) domains form a specific structure that acts as a hub for assembly with the signaling modules inside the lipid bilayer. Conservation of key polar contacts across the C-terminal half of this TM interface suggests that the structure is a common feature of all TCR types.

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