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Updated: Aug 7, 2026

Transmembrane Domain Oligomerization Propensity determined by ToxR Assay
Published on: May 26, 2011
alpha beta T cell receptor ligand-specific oligomerization revisited
1Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, 7 Divinity Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA.
Abstract:
The mechanism of T cell receptor signaling is unclear. Included among models for TCR signaling is ligand-induced oligomerization in a fashion analogous to other cell surface receptors. Published kinetic, saturation binding, and light scattering experiments have been interpreted to suggest a propensity for soluble alpha beta TCR/peptide/MHC ectodomain complexes to oligomerize. Upon performing these experiments with soluble ectodomains of human class I and class II restricted alpha beta TCRs, we find no evidence for dimerization or oligomerization of complexes. Apparently, oligomerization in solution to a detectable extent is not a general property of soluble alpha beta TCRs or their complexes with ligand. Our results suggest that membrane-anchored, fully assembled TCRs should be studied to determine the role oligomerization plays in T cell signaling.
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