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Related Concept Videos

Diversity of Antigen Receptors01:28

Diversity of Antigen Receptors

Antigen receptors are essential components of the immune system crucial in defending the body against foreign invaders. These receptors are present on the surface of B and T cells, enabling them to recognize antigens and mount an appropriate immune response.
Before encountering any antigen, lymphocytes express these receptors. On B cells, the antigen receptor is a membrane-bound antibody molecule called BCR; on T cells, it is a T cell receptor or TCR. B and T cell receptors are composed of two...
Antigens Involved in Adaptive Immunity01:26

Antigens Involved in Adaptive Immunity

An antigen is any substance the immune system identifies as foreign and potentially harmful to the body, prompting an immune response. Antigens have two functional properties: immunogenicity and reactivity. Immunogenicity is the ability of an antigen to stimulate a specific immune response. At the same time, reactivity describes the antigen's ability to react with the cells and antibodies produced in response to it.
Complete Antigens
Complete antigens possess both immunogenicity and reactivity.
Special Features of Adaptive Immunity01:20

Special Features of Adaptive Immunity

The adaptive immune system, a crucial component of the overall immune response, offers a highly specialized defense against pathogens. It involves specific cell types and features, enabling it to combat infections effectively and efficiently.
The primary cell types involved in adaptive immunity are T cells and B cells. Each type has a unique role in defending the body against pathogens. T cells are responsible for cell-mediated immunity. They identify and eliminate infected cells directly,...
B Cell Activation and Differentiation01:24

B Cell Activation and Differentiation

The adaptive immune response, a sophisticated defense mechanism, relies on the activation and differentiation of B lymphocytes, or B cells. These processes enable our bodies to mount a tailored response against specific pathogens such as bacteria, free virus particles, toxins, and parasites.
When naive B cells encounter a specific antigen that can bind to the B cell receptor (BCR) on their surface, they undergo sensitization to respond to the antigen's presence. Sensitization begins with...
Immune Response Against Viral Pathogens01:29

Immune Response Against Viral Pathogens

The immune system's response to viral infections is a complex and coordinated process involving natural killer (NK) cells, T cell-mediated responses, and antibody-mediated responses.
NK Cells
NK cells are a crucial part of our innate immune system, acting as the first line of defense against viral infections. These cells can recognize and kill infected cells without prior exposure to the virus, effectively slowing down the spread of infection. Additionally, NK cells produce proinflammatory...
T Cell Activation and Clonal Selection01:22

T Cell Activation and Clonal Selection

T cells are integral to our adaptive immune system, recognizing and effectively responding to foreign antigens. T cell activation and clonal selection are pivotal in orchestrating this immune response. This article elucidates these mechanisms, detailing the roles of cluster of differentiation (CD) markers, major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules, costimulatory signals, and the process of clonal selection.
Naive T cells that have not yet encountered an antigen express two primary CD...

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Generating De Novo Antigen-specific Human T Cell Receptors by Retroviral Transduction of Centric Hemichain
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Published on: October 25, 2016

Antigen recognition by variable lymphocyte receptors.

Byung Woo Han1, Brantley R Herrin, Max D Cooper

  • 1Department of Molecular Biology, Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.

Science (New York, N.Y.)
|September 27, 2008
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Jawless vertebrates use variable lymphocyte receptors (VLRs) for adaptive immunity. Structural analysis reveals how VLRs recognize antigens, like the H-antigen, through specific molecular interactions and variable regions.

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Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Structural Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Jawless vertebrates possess a unique adaptive immune system relying on variable lymphocyte receptors (VLRs) instead of antibodies.
  • The vast repertoire of VLRs for antigen recognition is generated through combinatorial gene segment assembly of leucine-rich repeats (LRRs).

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the high-resolution crystal structure of a VLR-antigen complex.
  • To elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying VLR-mediated antigen recognition and specificity.

Main Methods:

  • X-ray crystallography was employed to determine the structure of VLR RBC36 in complex with the H-antigen trisaccharide.
  • Structural analysis focused on identifying key residues and interactions responsible for antigen binding.

Main Results:

  • The crystal structure of VLR RBC36 complexed with the H-antigen trisaccharide was resolved at 1.67 angstrom resolution.
  • RBC36 binds the H-trisaccharide on its concave LRR surface, involving specific hydrophilic residues, van der Waals interactions, and a variable C-terminal LRR insert.
  • The study identified key determinants of antigen recognition and specificity within the VLR structure.

Conclusions:

  • The concave surface of VLRs, formed by highly variable LRR regions and a variable insert, is crucial for recognizing diverse antigens.
  • Structural insights into VLR-antigen interactions provide a molecular basis for understanding adaptive immunity in jawless vertebrates.