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Updated: Aug 4, 2026

A TIRF Microscopy Technique for Real-time, Simultaneous Imaging of the TCR and its Associated Signaling Proteins
Published on: March 22, 2012
[T cell receptor and its related molecules in signal transduction]
1Department of Immunology, Juntendo University School of Medicine.
Abstract:
Engagement of the T cell receptor (TCR) by peptide antigen bound to the major histocompatibility complex molecules initiates a biochemical cascade involving protein tyrosine kinases (PTKs) such as Lck, ZAP70 and Csk, and protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPases) such as CD45, SHP-1 and SHP-2. In the process of T cell activation, immune tyrosine-based activation motifs (ITAMs) and immune tyrosine-based inhibitory motifs(ITIMs) within the cytoplasmic region of CD3 and CD152 molecules play a key role in the activation of PTKs and PTPases. Consequently, Ras/MAP kinase and PLC gamma 1 pathways are activated to induce IL-2 gene transcription through AP-1 and NF-AT generation. Recent biochemical and genetic evidence has suggested that dysfunction in these TCR-related molecules resulted in immuno-deficiency, breakdown of tolerance and abnormal T cell development.
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