Structure and diversity of the T-cell receptor alpha chain in rhesus macaque and chimpanzee

We cloned and sequenced cDNA for the TCRAC1 of a healthy rhesus monkey and chimpanzee. TCRAC1 from both nonhuman primates show extensive conservation compared to the human sequence and to other mammals. A possible primate-specific insertion near the hinge region of the TCRAC1 region is described. Characterization of 18 rhesus macaque and eight chimpanzee TCRA chain cDNA clones derived from inverse PCR revealed 12 different TCRAV and 16 different TCRAJ regions which corresponded closely to known human counterparts. One functional rhesus macaque TCRDV-TCRAJ rearrangement was detected, suggesting a genomic organization of the macaque TCRD locus which is similar to humans. At the genomic level, a single TCRAC1 gene segment was detected in rhesus macaque and chimpanzee. The close phylogenetic relationship between primates shown here for TCRA chain components supports the use of these species as animal models of human immune-mediated disease.