Molecular analysis of the antigen receptor of virus‐specific cytotoxic T cells and identification of a new Vα family

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Abstract
We have determined the primary structure of the α/β‐antigen receptor of a lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV)‐specific cytotoxic T cell clone (P14). The β chain of the T cell receptor is composed of Vβ8.1, Dβ and Jβ2.4 gene segments while the α chain uses a member of the Vα2 family and Jα TA31. Southern blot analysis of a panel of six other independent LCMV‐specific cytotoxic T cell clones did not reveal any preferential usage of the Vα2 or Vβ8 gene families in the cytotoxic LCMV response. Additionally, we have isolated and sequenced cDNA clones derived from the non‐functionally rearranged α allele of P14. This transcript is composed of a unique Vα gene segment which belongs to a new Vα gene family.