Preferential association of α and β chains of the T cell antigen receptor

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) clone B6.2.16 expresses a Vβ8.2/Jβ2.3/Cβ2‐encoded T cell receptor (TcR) β chain and an α chain that is encoded by a novel Vα gene segment, Jα27 and Cα. While expression of VαB6.2.16 and Jα27 is not detectable in lymph node cells of normal C57BL/6 mice, expression of these gene segments was readily seen in transgenic mice expressing the rearranged β chain gene of the B6.2.16 T cell clone. This finding indicates that only a limited number of α chains can associate with the B6.2.16 β chain and strongly suggests that the size of the TcR repertoire of mature T cells is not only limited by TcR ligand‐mediated thymic selection but also by restrictions in α‐β combinatorial chain association.