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Updated: Jun 23, 2026

A TIRF Microscopy Technique for Real-time, Simultaneous Imaging of the TCR and its Associated Signaling Proteins
Published on: March 22, 2012
Chimeric immunoglobulin-T cell receptor proteins form functional receptors: implications for T cell receptor complex
J Goverman1, S M Gomez, K D Segesman
1Division of Biology, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena 91125.
Abstract:
We constructed chimeric receptor chains in which an immunoglobulin heavy chain variable region (VH) from a phosphorylcholine-specific antibody is substituted for T cell receptor (Tcr) alpha and beta V regions. We demonstrate that the VH region joined to either the C alpha or the C beta region can form stable chimeric proteins in EL4 T cells. Both chimeric receptor chains associate with CD3 polypeptides in functional receptor complexes and respond to phosphorylcholine coupled to Sepharose beads. The VH-C alpha chimeric chain associates with the EL4 beta chain, while the VH-C beta chimeric protein appears to form either a homodimer or a heterodimer with the native EL4 beta chain. Thus, functional receptor complexes can be formed using two C beta regions, and the C alpha region may not be required for CD3 association and surface expression of Tcr complexes.
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