Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

T Cell Activation and Clonal Selection01:22

T Cell Activation and Clonal Selection

17.1K
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...
17.1K
Diversity of Antigen Receptors01:28

Diversity of Antigen Receptors

2.0K
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...
2.0K
T Cell Types and Functions01:24

T Cell Types and Functions

3.2K
When T cells with CD4 markers are activated, they give rise to two types of effector cells: helper T cells and regulatory T cells. Meanwhile, T cells with CD8 markers differentiate into effector cytotoxic T cells. The differentiation of CD4 T cells into helper T cell subsets, such as Th1, Th2, and Th17 cells, is dependent on the antigen type, antigen-presenting cell, and regulatory cytokines.
Th1 cells stimulate dendritic cells to express necessary co-stimulatory molecules on their surfaces for...
3.2K
Receptor Tyrosine Kinases01:26

Receptor Tyrosine Kinases

20.5K
Receptor tyrosine kinases or RTKs are membrane-bound receptors that phosphorylate specific tyrosine on protein substrates. RTKs regulate cellular growth, differentiation, survival, and migration. They contain an extracellular ligand binding domain, a transmembrane domain, and a cytosolic tail with intrinsic kinase activity. Several extracellular signaling molecules activate RTKs in one or more ways and relay the signal downstream. Ligands such as platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) or...
20.5K
Types of Receptors: Cell Surface Receptors01:28

Types of Receptors: Cell Surface Receptors

32.7K
Cell-surface receptors, also known as transmembrane receptors, are cell surface, membrane-anchored (integral) proteins that bind to external ligand molecules. This type of receptor spans the plasma membrane and performs signal transduction, converting an extracellular signal into an intracellular signal. Ligands that interact with cell-surface receptors do not have to enter the cell that they affect. Cell-surface receptors are also called cell-specific proteins or markers because they are...
32.7K
Antibody Structure01:10

Antibody Structure

67.2K
Overview
Antibodies, also known as immunoglobulins (Ig), are essential players of the adaptive immune system. These antigen-binding proteins are produced by B cells and make up 20 percent of the total blood plasma by weight. In mammals, antibodies fall into five different classes, which each elicits a different biological response upon antigen binding.
The Y-Shaped Structure of Antibodies Consists of Four Polypeptide Chains
Antibodies consist of four polypeptide chains: two identical heavy...
67.2K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

The case for allele-specific recognition by the TCR.

Scandinavian journal of immunology·2019
Same author

The real "danger" lies in the failure to confront fundamentals.

Scandinavian journal of immunology·2018
Same author

TCR-pMHC interactions: Two peptide repertoires-one signal.

Scandinavian journal of immunology·2018
Same author

Rationalizing the path to a universal graft recipient.

Immunologic research·2018
Same author

Somatic diversification of the B cell repertoire requires two cell subsets.

Scandinavian journal of immunology·2018
Same author

History of the antibody workshops.

Immunologic research·2017
Same journal

Emapalumab plus conventional therapy with or without ruxolitinib for pediatric hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis: a single center retrospective study.

Immunologic research·2026
Same journal

Immunological spectrum in patients with thymoma: beyond good syndrome.

Immunologic research·2026
Same journal

Microbiome immune crosstalk in Sjögren's syndrome: mechanistic insights and translational perspectives.

Immunologic research·2026
Same journal

Immune checkpoint inhibitor-induced myasthenia gravis and myocarditis: a fatal immune-related adverse event.

Immunologic research·2026
Same journal

TRIM28 and TRIM32: multifaceted regulators of innate immunity and antiviral defence.

Immunologic research·2026
Same journal

Decoding PANoptosis: Crosstalk of cell death pathways in immunity and inflammation.

Immunologic research·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 22, 2026

Using X-ray Crystallography, Biophysics, and Functional Assays to Determine the Mechanisms Governing T-cell Receptor Recognition of Cancer Antigens
09:53

Using X-ray Crystallography, Biophysics, and Functional Assays to Determine the Mechanisms Governing T-cell Receptor Recognition of Cancer Antigens

Published on: February 6, 2017

11.9K

Dissecting the two models of TCR structure-function relationships.

Melvin Cohn1

  • 1Conceptual Immunology Group, The Salk Institute, 10010 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA. cohn@salk.edu.

Immunologic Research
|April 27, 2016
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

The Tritope model offers a more logical explanation for T cell antigen receptor (TCR) structure and function compared to the Standard model. It proposes distinct recognition sites for peptide and MHC, resolving issues with restrictive reactivity in TCR signaling.

Keywords:
Self–nonself discriminationTCR differentiationTCR functionTCR modelsTCR signalingThymus

More Related Videos

A TIRF Microscopy Technique for Real-time, Simultaneous Imaging of the TCR and its Associated Signaling Proteins
16:10

A TIRF Microscopy Technique for Real-time, Simultaneous Imaging of the TCR and its Associated Signaling Proteins

Published on: March 22, 2012

24.5K
Measuring TCR-pMHC Binding In Situ using a FRET-based Microscopy Assay
19:05

Measuring TCR-pMHC Binding In Situ using a FRET-based Microscopy Assay

Published on: October 30, 2015

13.0K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Mar 22, 2026

Using X-ray Crystallography, Biophysics, and Functional Assays to Determine the Mechanisms Governing T-cell Receptor Recognition of Cancer Antigens
09:53

Using X-ray Crystallography, Biophysics, and Functional Assays to Determine the Mechanisms Governing T-cell Receptor Recognition of Cancer Antigens

Published on: February 6, 2017

11.9K
A TIRF Microscopy Technique for Real-time, Simultaneous Imaging of the TCR and its Associated Signaling Proteins
16:10

A TIRF Microscopy Technique for Real-time, Simultaneous Imaging of the TCR and its Associated Signaling Proteins

Published on: March 22, 2012

24.5K
Measuring TCR-pMHC Binding In Situ using a FRET-based Microscopy Assay
19:05

Measuring TCR-pMHC Binding In Situ using a FRET-based Microscopy Assay

Published on: October 30, 2015

13.0K

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Structural Biology

Background:

  • T-cell receptor (TCR) structure-function relationships are crucial for adaptive immunity.
  • Two models, the Standard (Model I) and Tritope (Model II), attempt to explain TCR-mediated recognition.
  • Existing models face challenges in fully accounting for restrictive reactivity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To comparatively analyze the logic and validity of the Standard and Tritope models.
  • To evaluate their respective explanations for T cell antigen receptor (TCR) restrictive reactivity.
  • To highlight the implications of each model for understanding TCR structure and function.

Main Methods:

  • Comparative analysis of theoretical models of TCR structure-function.
  • Logical evaluation of the postulates underlying restrictive reactivity in each model.
  • Examination of the consequences of the Tritope model's 'two repertoire' postulate.

Main Results:

  • The Standard model (Model I) presents an untenable explanation for restrictive reactivity based on TCR-BCR analogy.
  • The Tritope model (Model II) postulates distinct germline and somatic selection for MHC and peptide recognition, respectively.
  • Model II necessitates a multiply recognitive TCR with independent anti-MHC and anti-peptide paratopes.

Conclusions:

  • The Tritope model provides a more coherent framework for understanding TCR structure and function.
  • Model II suggests a novel TCR structure and a surprising correlation between TCR V gene segments and MHC diversity.
  • Both models must ultimately explain the link between epitope-paratope interactions and T cell signaling outcomes.