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Publication Abstract from PubMed

CD1 proteins present microbial lipids to T cells. Germline-encoded mycolyl lipid-reactive (GEM) T cells with conserved alphabeta T cell receptors (TCRs) recognize CD1b presenting mycobacterial mycolates. As the molecular basis underpinning TCR recognition of CD1b remains unknown, here we determine the structure of a GEM TCR bound to CD1b presenting glucose-6-O-monomycolate (GMM). The GEM TCR docks centrally above CD1b, whereby the conserved TCR alpha-chain extensively contacts CD1b and GMM. Through mutagenesis and study of T cells from tuberculosis patients, we identify a consensus CD1b footprint of TCRs present among GEM T cells. Using both the TCR alpha- and beta-chains as tweezers to surround and grip the glucose moiety of GMM, GEM TCRs create a highly specific mechanism for recognizing this mycobacterial glycolipid.

T cell receptor recognition of CD1b presenting a mycobacterial glycolipid.,Gras S, Van Rhijn I, Shahine A, Cheng TY, Bhati M, Tan LL, Halim H, Tuttle KD, Gapin L, Le Nours J, Moody DB, Rossjohn J Nat Commun. 2016 Oct 27;7:13257. doi: 10.1038/ncomms13257. PMID:27807341^[3]

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.