T-CELL RECEPTOR STRUCTURE AND TCR COMPLEXES

The first crystal structures of intact T-cell receptors (TCRs) and the ir complexes with MHC peptide antigens (pMHC) were reported during the past year, along with those of a single-chain TCR Fv fragment and a b eta-chain complexed with two different bacterial superantigens. These structures have shown the similarities and differences in the architec ture of the antigen-binding regions of TCRs and antibodies, and how th e TCR interacts with pMHC ligands as well as with superantigens. (C) C urrent Biology Ltd ISSN 0959-440X.