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Related Concept Videos

T Cell Activation and Clonal Selection01:22

T Cell Activation and Clonal Selection

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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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Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases are present in both eukaryotes and bacteria. Though eukaryotes have 20 different aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases to couple to 20 amino acids, many bacteria do not have genes for all of these aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases. Despite this, they still use all 20 amino acids to synthesize their proteins. For instance, some bacteria do not have the gene encoding the enzyme that couples glutamine with its partner tRNA. In these organisms, one enzyme adds glutamic acid to all of the...
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T Cell Types and Functions01:24

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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.
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B Cell Activation and Differentiation01:24

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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.
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Cytotoxic T Cells-mediated Immune Response01:27

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Cytotoxic T cells are a vital component of the immune system. They have the remarkable ability to identify and target antigens on infected or abnormal cells. These antigens often originate from intracellular pathogens such as viruses or abnormal proteins cancer cells produce.
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Intracellular Signaling Affects Focal Adhesions01:17

Intracellular Signaling Affects Focal Adhesions

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Integrins act both as extracellular input receivers and as intracellular processing activators. As their name suggests, integrins are entirely integrated into the membrane structure. Their hydrophobic membrane-spanning regions interact with the phospholipid bilayer's hydrophobic region. These membrane receptors provide extracellular attachment sites for effectors like hormones and growth factors. They activate intracellular response cascades when their effectors are bound and active.
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Updated: Jan 19, 2026

Use of Single Chain MHC Technology to Investigate Co-agonism in Human CD8+ T Cell Activation
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T Cell Activation Depends on Extracellular Alanine.

Noga Ron-Harel1, Jonathan M Ghergurovich2, Giulia Notarangelo1

  • 1Department of Cell Biology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.

Cell Reports
|September 19, 2019
PubMed
Summary

Naive and memory T cells require extracellular alanine for efficient activation and protein synthesis. Alanine deprivation impairs T cell metabolism and function, highlighting its essential role beyond biosynthesis.

Keywords:
T cell activationT cellsalaninemetabolismprotein synthesis

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Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Cellular Metabolism
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • T cell activation is a metabolically intensive process.
  • T cells utilize environmental nutrients like glucose and amino acids (glutamine, leucine, serine, arginine) to exit quiescence.
  • Nutrient transporter expression is tightly regulated during T cell activation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of extracellular alanine in T cell activation and function.
  • To elucidate the metabolic mechanisms underlying T cell alanine dependency.

Main Methods:

  • Studied naive and memory T cell activation in vitro.
  • Utilized alanine deprivation experiments.
  • Employed stable isotope tracing to track alanine metabolism.
  • Assessed metabolic and functional impairments in T cells.

Main Results:

  • Extracellular alanine is essential for efficient T cell exit from quiescence.
  • Alanine deprivation results in significant metabolic and functional deficits in T cells.
  • Activated T cells upregulate alanine transporters but maintain low alanine aminotransferase expression.
  • Stable isotope tracing indicates alanine is used for protein synthesis, not catabolism.

Conclusions:

  • T cells depend on exogenous alanine for protein synthesis and normal activation.
  • The upregulation of alanine transporters underscores the requirement for external alanine supply.
  • These findings reveal a novel metabolic vulnerability and requirement for T cell activation.