PRE-TCR CD3 AND TCR/CD3 COMPLEXES - DECAMERS WITH DIFFERENTIAL SIGNALING PROPERTIES/

Currently, the favoured model for the structure of the T-cell receptor (TCR)/CD3 complex proposes a monovalent TCR alpha beta/CD3 gamma epsi lon delta epsilon zeta zeta octameric complex. However, other biochemi cal, structure al and functional data point to a bivalent (TCR alpha b eta)(2)/CD3 gamma epsilon delta epsilon zeta zeta decameric organizati on, which hits a favourable neutral transmembrane net charge within th e complex. Here, Heinz Jacobs proposes it model for the organization o f the pre-TCR and discusses its function in signal transduction.