Role of the beta-subunit arginine/lysine finger in integrin heterodimer formation and function

Formation of the integrin alphabeta heterodimer is essential for cell surface expression and function. At the core of the alphabeta interface is a conserved Arg/Lys "finger" from the beta-subunit that inserts into a cup-like "cage" formed of two layers of aromatic residues in the alpha-subunit. We evaluated the role of this residue in heterodimer formation in an alphaA-lacking and an alphaA-containing integrin alphaVbeta3 and alphaMbeta2 (CD11b/CD18), respectively. Arg261 of beta3 was mutated to Ala or Glu; the corresponding Lys252 of beta2 was mutated to Ala, Arg, Glu, Asp, or Phe; and the effects on heterodimer formation in each integrin examined by ELISA and immunoprecipitation in HEK 293 cells cotransfected with plasmids encoding the alpha- and beta-subunits. The Arg261Glu (but not Arg261Ala) substitution significantly impaired cell surface expression and heterodimer formation of alphaVbeta3. Although Lys252Arg, and to a lesser extent Lys252Ala, were well tolerated, each of the remaining substitutions markedly reduced cell surface expression and heterodimer formation of CD11b/CD18. Lys252Arg and Lys252Ala integrin heterodimers displayed a significant increase in binding to the physiologic ligand iC3b. These data demonstrate an important role of the Arg/Lys finger in formation of a stable integrin heterodimer, and suggest that subtle changes at this residue affect the activation state of the integrin.     

Lysine 271 in the transmembrane domain of the T-cell antigen receptor beta chain is necessary for its assembly with the CD3 complex but not for alpha/beta dimerization

The T-cell antigen receptor (TcR) complex present on most T-cells is formed by a clone-specific disulfide-linked alpha/beta heterodimer noncovalently associated to the CD3 complex, the latter composed of five invariant polypeptides: gamma, delta, epsilon, zeta/zeta, or zeta/eta. The presence of conserved, oppositely charged, amino acids in the predicted transmembrane domains of all the subunits of the TcR.CD3 complex suggests that these residues may have a critical function in the assembly and/or stabilization of the complex. In order to analyze the role of the transmembrane-charged amino acids in the association and cell surface expression of the TcR.CD3 complex, we have carried out site-directed mutagenesis of Lys271 in the transmembrane domain of the TcR beta chain and analyzed the capacity of the altered chain to assemble in a TcR beta-negative T-cell line. Here we show that substitution of this positively charged residue by alanine or glutamine does not prevent cytoplasmic association of alpha and beta chains to form disulfide-linked heterodimers, but does abolish formation of an alpha/beta.CD3 complex and, consequently, its expression on the cell surface.     

Associations between subunit ectodomains promote T cell antigen receptor assembly and protect against degradation in the ER

The T cell antigen receptor (TCR) is an oligomeric protein complex made from at least six different integral membrane proteins (alpha beta gamma delta epsilon and zeta). The TCR is assembled in the ER of T cells, and correct assembly is required for transport to the cell surface. Single subunits and partial receptor complexes are retained in the ER where TCR alpha, beta, and CD3 delta chains are degraded selectively. The information required for the ER degradation of the TCR beta chain is confined to the membrane anchor of the protein (Wileman et al., 1990c; Bonifacino et al., 1990b). In this study we show that the rapid degradation of the TCR beta chain is inhibited when it assembles with single CD3 gamma, delta, or epsilon subunits in the ER, and have started to define the role played by transmembrane anchors, and receptor ectodomains, in the masking proteolytic targeting information. Acidic residues within the membrane spanning domains of CD3 subunits were essential for binding to the TCR beta chain. TCR beta chains and CD3 subunits therefore interact via transmembrane domains. However, when sites of binding were restricted to the membrane anchor of the TCR beta chain, stabilization by CD3 subunits was markedly reduced. Interactions between membrane spanning domains were not, therefore, sufficient for the protection of the beta chain from ER proteolysis. The presence of the C beta domain, containing the first 150 amino acids of the TCR ectodomain, greatly increased the stability of complexes formed in the ER. For assembly with CD3 epsilon, stability was further enhanced by the V beta amino acids. The results showed that the efficient neutralization of transmembrane proteolytic targeting information required associations between membrane spanning domains and the presence of receptor ectodomains. Interactions between receptor ectodomains may slow the dissociation of CD3 subunits from the beta chain and prolong the masking of transmembrane targeting information. In addition, the close proximity of TCR and CD3 ectodomains within the ER may provide steric protection from the action of proteases within the ER lumen.     

The unfolding story of T cell receptor gamma

Antigen-specific, major histocompatibility complex-restricted recognition by classical T cells is mediated by a T cell receptor (TCR) consisting of a disulfide-linked alpha beta heterodimer. During the search for the genes encoding the alpha and beta proteins, a third immunoglobulin-like gene, termed gamma, was uncovered. Like the TCR alpha and beta genes, the TCR gamma gene consists of variable and constant segments that rearrange during T cell development in the thymus. Although the physiological role of TCR gamma remains an enigma, much has been learned with the recent identification of the protein products of this gene family in both mice and humans. The gamma chain is associated with a partner chain, termed delta. The gamma delta heterodimer is associated with an invariant T3 complex, very similar to that associated with the alpha beta heterodimer, and appears predominantly, if not exclusively, on cells with a CD4-, CD8- phenotype both in the thymus and in the periphery. TCR gamma delta is the first T3-associated receptor to appear during thymocyte development and defines a separate T cell lineage distinct from alpha beta-bearing cells. Although TCR alpha beta-bearing cells and TCR gamma delta-bearing cells follow parallel developmental pathways, the diversity of expressed gamma delta receptors is extremely limited relative to that of alpha beta receptors.     

The amino acid sequence of human chorionic gonadotropin. The alpha subunit and beta subunit.

The amino acid sequences of both the alpha and beta subunits of human chorionic gonadotropin have been determined. The amino acid sequence of the alpha subunit is: Ala - Asp - Val - Gln - Asp - Cys - Pro - Glu - Cys-10 - Thr - Leu - Gln - Asp - Pro - Phe - Ser - Gln-20 - Pro - Gly - Ala - Pro - Ile - Leu - Gln - Cys - Met - Gly-30 - Cys - Cys - Phe - Ser - Arg - Ala - Tyr - Pro - Thr - Pro-40 - Leu - Arg - Ser - Lys - Lys - Thr - Met - Leu - Val - Gln-50 - Lys - Asn - Val - Thr - Ser - Glu - Ser - Thr - Cys - Cys-60 - Val - Ala - Lys - Ser - Thr - Asn - Arg - Val - Thr - Val-70 - Met - Gly - Gly - Phe - Lys - Val - Glu - Asn - His - Thr-80 - Ala - Cys - His - Cys - Ser - Thr - Cys - Tyr - Tyr - His-90 - Lys - Ser. Oligosaccharide side chains are attached at residues 52 and 78. In the preparations studied approximately 10 and 30% of the chains lack the initial 2 and 3 NH2-terminal residues, respectively. This sequence is almost identical with that of human luteinizing hormone (Sairam, M. R., Papkoff, H., and Li, C. H. (1972) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 48, 530-537). The amino acid sequence of the beta subunit is: Ser - Lys - Glu - Pro - Leu - Arg - Pro - Arg - Cys - Arg-10 - Pro - Ile - Asn - Ala - Thr - Leu - Ala - Val - Glu - Lys-20 - Glu - Gly - Cys - Pro - Val - Cys - Ile - Thr - Val - Asn-30 - Thr - Thr - Ile - Cys - Ala - Gly - Tyr - Cys - Pro - Thr-40 - Met - Thr - Arg - Val - Leu - Gln - Gly - Val - Leu - Pro-50 - Ala - Leu - Pro - Gin - Val - Val - Cys - Asn - Tyr - Arg-60 - Asp - Val - Arg - Phe - Glu - Ser - Ile - Arg - Leu - Pro-70 - Gly - Cys - Pro - Arg - Gly - Val - Asn - Pro - Val - Val-80 - Ser - Tyr - Ala - Val - Ala - Leu - Ser - Cys - Gln - Cys-90 - Ala - Leu - Cys - Arg - Arg - Ser - Thr - Thr - Asp - Cys-100 - Gly - Gly - Pro - Lys - Asp - His - Pro - Leu - Thr - Cys-110 - Asp - Asp - Pro - Arg - Phe - Gln - Asp - Ser - Ser - Ser - Ser - Lys - Ala - Pro - Pro - Pro - Ser - Leu - Pro - Ser-130 - Pro - Ser - Arg - Leu - Pro - Gly - Pro - Ser - Asp - Thr-140 - Pro - Ile - Leu - Pro - Gln. Oligosaccharide side chains are found at residues 13, 30, 121, 127, 132, and 138. The proteolytic enzyme, thrombin, which appears to cleave a limited number of arginyl bonds, proved helpful in the determination of the beta sequence.     

Association of the human CD3-zeta chain with the alpha beta-T cell receptor/CD3 complex. Clues from a T cell variant with a mutated T cell receptor-alpha chain

The TCR for Ag, on the majority of human T cells, is a disulfide-linked heterodimer composed of TCR-alpha and -beta chains noncovalently associated with the monomorphic CD3 complex composed of the CD3-gamma, -delta, -epsilon, and -zeta chains. The interactions involved in the assembly of the various components of this multimeric protein complex are not fully understood. In this report, a variant of the human leukemic T cell line Jurkat that synthesized all of the known components of the TCR/CD3 complex but fails to express the TCR/CD3 complex at the cell surface is further characterized. This variant, J79, has a mutated TCR-alpha chain that does not affect the assembly of the pentameric form (TCR-alpha beta-CD3-gamma delta epsilon) of the TCR/CD3 complex but inhibits the assembly of the CD3-zeta homodimer with the rest of the complex (TCR-alpha beta-CD3-gamma delta epsilon----TCR-alpha beta-CD3-gamma delta epsilon zeta 2). Transfecting a wild-type TCR-alpha gene into J79 reconstituted expression of a complete functionally competent TCR/CD3 complex at the cell surface. The results indicate that the TCR-alpha chain plays a crucial role in the assembly of the CD3-zeta homodimer with the pentameric form of the TCR/CD3 complex.     

Persistence of glucose residues on core oligosaccharides prevents association of TCR alpha and TCR beta proteins with calnexin and results specifically in accelerated degradation of nascent TCR alpha proteins within the endoplasmic reticulum.

The alpha beta T-cell antigen receptor (TCR) is a multisubunit transmembrane complex composed of at least six different proteins (alpha, beta, gamma, delta, epsilon and zeta) that are assembled in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). In this report we have examined the role of oligosaccharide processing on survival and assembly of nascent TCR proteins within the ER and their associations with molecular chaperone proteins important in TCR assembly. We found that treatment of BW5147 T cells with the glucosidase inhibitor castanospermine resulted in markedly accelerated degradation of nascent TCR alpha proteins with a half-life of approximately 20 min. Accelerated degradation was unique to TCR alpha proteins, as the stability of nascent TCR beta and CD3 gamma,epsilon chains was unaltered. Consistent with a requirement for glucose (Glc) trimming for survival of nascent TCR alpha proteins within the ER, we found that newly synthesized TCR alpha chains were innately unstable in the glucosidase II-deficient BW5147 mutant cell line PHAR2.7. In addition to destabilizing nascent TCR alpha proteins we found that persistence of Glc residues on core oligosaccharides markedly interfered with association of both TCR alpha and TCR beta glycoproteins with the molecular chaperone calnexin. Finally, using 2B4 T hybridoma cells in which TCR complexes are efficiently assembled, we found that rapid degradation of nascent TCR alpha proteins induced by impaired Glc trimming severely limits assembly of TCR alpha proteins with TCR beta proteins.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

The high affinity Fc epsilon receptor gamma subunit (Fc epsilon RI gamma) facilitates T cell receptor expression and antigen/major histocompatibility complex-driven signaling in the absence of CD3 zeta and CD3 eta.

The T cell receptor (TCR) is a molecular complex formed by at least seven transmembrane proteins: the antigen/major histocompatibility complex recognition unit (Ti alpha-beta heterodimer) and the invariant CD3 chains (gamma, delta, epsilon, zeta, and eta). In addition to targeting partially assembled Ti alpha-beta CD3 gamma delta epsilon TCR complexes to the cell surface, CD3 zeta appears to be essential for interleukin-2 production after TCR stimulation with antigen/major histocompatibility complex. The gamma chain of the high affinity Fc receptor for IgE (Fc epsilon RI gamma) has significant structural homology to CD3 zeta and the related CD3 eta subunit. To identify the functional significance of sequence homologies between CD3 zeta and Fc epsilon RI gamma in T cells, we have transfected a Fc epsilon RI gamma cDNA into a T cell hybridoma lacking CD3 zeta and CD3 eta proteins. Herein we show that a Fc epsilon RI gamma-gamma homodimer associates with TCR components to up-regulate TCR surface expression. A TCR composed of Ti alpha-beta CD3 gamma delta epsilon Fc epsilon RI gamma-gamma is sufficient to restore the coupling of TCR antigen recognition to the interleukin-2 induction pathway, demonstrating the functional significance of structural homology between the above receptor subunits. These results, in conjunction with the recent finding that CD3 zeta, CD3 eta, and Fc epsilon RI gamma are coexpressed in certain T cells as subunits of an unusual TCR isoform, suggest that Fc epsilon RI gamma is likely to play a role in T cell lineage function.     

Failure to synthesize the CD3-gamma chain. Consequences for T cell antigen receptor assembly, processing, and expression.

The TCR consists of the Ti alpha beta heterodimer and the associated CD3 chains, CD3 gamma delta epsilon zeta 2 or zeta eta. The structural relationships between the subunits of the Ti/CD3 complex are still not fully understood. To explore the roles of the individual CD3 chains for the assembly, intracellular processing, and expression of the TCR, mutants of the T cell line Jurkat were isolated. One variant, JGN, was found to produce all the Ti/CD3 components with the exception of CD3-gamma. The results indicate that: 1) the tetrameric form (Ti alpha beta-CD3 delta epsilon) of the Ti/CD3 complex is produced in the endoplasmic reticulum in the absence of CD3-gamma; 2) CD3-zeta does not associate with the Ti alpha beta-CD3 delta epsilon complex; 3) the Ti alpha beta-CD3 delta epsilon complex is not exported from the endoplasmic reticulum to the Golgi apparatus; and 4) CD3-gamma is required for cell surface expression of the Ti/CD3 complex. Transfection of the wild-type CD3-gamma gene into JGN reconstituted expression of functional Ti/CD3 complexes, and analysis of T cell lines producing different amounts of CD3-gamma indicated that CD3-gamma and CD3-delta competed for the binding to CD3-epsilon.     

Assembly, intracellular processing, and expression at the cell surface of the human alpha beta T cell receptor/CD3 complex. Function of the CD3-zeta chain

The TCR/CD3 complex is a multimeric protein complex composed of a minimum of seven transmembrane chains (TCR alpha beta-CD3 gamma delta epsilon zeta 2). Whereas earlier studies have demonstrated that both the TCR-alpha and -beta chains are required for the cell surface expression of the TCR/CD3 complex, the role of the CD3 chains for the TCR/CD3 expression have not been experimentally addressed in human T cells. In this study the function of the CD3-zeta chain for the assembly, intracellular processing, and expression of the TCR/CD3 complex in the human leukemic T cell line Jurkat was investigated. The results indicate that: 1) CD3-zeta is required for the cell surface expression of the TCR/CD3 complex; 2) the pentameric form (TCR alpha beta-CD3 gamma delta epsilon) of the TCR/CD3 complex and single TCR chains associated with CD3 (TCR alpha-CD3 gamma delta epsilon and TCR beta-CD3 gamma delta epsilon) are produced in the endoplasmic reticulum in the absence of CD3-zeta; 3) the CD3-zeta does not associate with TCR alpha-CD3 gamma delta epsilon or TCR beta-CD3 gamma delta epsilon complexes; 4) CD3-zeta associate with the pentameric form of the TCR/CD3 complex in the endoplasmic reticulum to form the heptameric complex (TCR alpha beta-CD3 gamma delta epsilon----TCR alpha beta-CD3 gamma delta epsilon 2); and 5) CD3-zeta is required for the export of the TCR/CD3 complex from the endoplasmic reticulum to the Golgi apparatus for subsequent processing.     

T cell receptor (TCR) beta chain homodimers on the surface of immature but not mature alpha, gamma, delta chain deficient T cell lines.

Transfected T cell receptor (TCR) beta chain genes are expressed as homodimers on the surface of immature (Sci/ET27F) but not on mature (58 alpha-beta-) T cell lines which lack TCR alpha, gamma and delta chains. The homodimer on Sci/ET27F cells is tightly bound to CD3 delta and CD3 epsilon while the association with CD3 gamma and CD3 zeta proteins is rather weak. Crosslinking of the TCR beta homodimers resulted in a strong and rapid calcium flux. In 58 alpha-beta- T cells the beta TCR chain could be easily visualized intracellularly but was not transported to the cell surface. The Scid cell lines considerably facilitate the molecular analysis of early differentiation events in the thymus which are likely to be regulated by the beta TCR homodimer.     

Masking of the CD3 gamma di-leucine-based motif by zeta is required for efficient T-cell receptor expression

The T-cell receptor (TCR) is a multimeric receptor composed of the Ti alpha beta heterodimer and the noncovalently associated CD3 gamma delta epsilon and zeta(2) chains. All of the TCR chains are required for efficient cell surface expression of the TCR. Previous studies on chimeric molecules containing the di-leucine-based endocytosis motif of the TCR subunit CD3 gamma have indicated that the zeta chain can mask this motif. In this study, we show that successive truncations of the cytoplasmic tail of zeta led to reduced surface expression levels of completely assembled TCR complexes. The reduced TCR expression levels were caused by an increase in the TCR endocytic rate constant in combination with an unaffected exocytic rate constant. Furthermore, the TCR degradation rate constant was increased in cells with truncated zeta. Introduction of a CD3 gamma chain with a disrupted di-leucine-based endocytosis motif partially restored TCR expression in cells with truncated zeta chains, indicating that the zeta chain masks the endocytosis motif in CD3 gamma and thereby stabilizes TCR cell surface expression.     

Modification of the T cell antigen receptor (TCR) complex by UDP-glucose:glycoprotein glucosyltransferase. TCR folding is finalized convergent with formation of alpha beta delta epsilon gamma epsilon complexes.

Most T lymphocytes express on their surfaces a multisubunit receptor complex, the T cell antigen receptor (TCR) containing alpha, beta, gamma, delta, epsilon, and zeta molecules, that has been widely studied as a model system for protein quality control. Although the parameters of TCR assembly are relatively well established, little information exists regarding the stage(s) of TCR oligomerization where folding of TCR proteins is completed. Here we evaluated the modification of TCR glycoproteins by the endoplasmic reticulum folding sensor enzyme UDP-glucose:glycoprotein glucosyltransferase (GT) as a unique and sensitive indicator of how TCR subunits assembled into multisubunit complexes are perceived by the endoplasmic reticulum quality control system. These results demonstrate that all TCR subunits containing N-glycans were modified by GT and that TCR proteins were differentially reglucosylated during their assembly with partner TCR chains. Importantly, these data show that GT modification of most TCR subunits persisted until assembly of CD3alpha beta chains and formation of CD3-associated, disulfide-linked alpha beta heterodimers. These studies provide a novel evaluation of the folding status of TCR glycoproteins during their assembly into multisubunit complexes and are consistent with the concept that TCR folding is finalized convergent with formation of alpha beta delta epsilon gamma epsilon complexes.     

Developmental regulation of alpha beta T cell antigen receptor expression results from differential stability of nascent TCR alpha proteins within the endoplasmic reticulum of immature and mature T cells.

The alpha beta T cell antigen receptor (TCR) that is expressed on most T lymphocytes is a multisubunit transmembrane complex composed of at least six different proteins (alpha, beta, gamma, delta, epsilon and zeta) that are assembled in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and then transported to the plasma membrane. Expression of the TCR complex is quantitatively regulated during T cell development, with immature CD4+CD8+ thymocytes expressing only 10% of the number of surface alpha beta TCR complexes that are expressed on mature T cells. However, the molecular basis for low TCR expression in developing alpha beta T cells is unknown. In the present study we report the unexpected finding that assembly of nascent component chains into complete TCR alpha beta complexes is severely impaired in immature CD4+CD8+ thymocytes relative to their mature T cell progeny. In particular, the initial association of TCR alpha with TCR beta proteins, which occurs relatively efficiently in mature T cells, is markedly inefficient in immature CD4+CD8+ thymocytes, even for a matched pair of transgenic TCR alpha and TCR beta proteins. Inefficient formation of TCR alpha beta heterodimers in immature CD4+CD8+ thymocytes was found to result from the unique instability of nascent TCR alpha proteins within the ER of immature CD4+CD8+ thymocytes, with nascent TCR alpha proteins having a median survival time of only 15 min in CD4+CD8+ thymocytes, but > 75 min in mature T cells. Thus, these data demonstrate that stability of TCR alpha proteins within the ER is developmentally regulated and provide a molecular basis for quantitative differences in alpha beta TCR expression on immature and mature T cells. In addition, these results provide the first example of a receptor complex whose expression is quantitatively regulated during development by post-translational limitations on receptor assembly.     

The CD3-gamma and CD3-delta subunits of the T cell antigen receptor can be expressed within distinct functional TCR/CD3 complexes.

The T cell receptor for antigen (TCR) consists of two glycoproteins containing variable regions (TCR-alpha/beta or TCR-gamma/delta) which are expressed on the cell surface in association with at least four invariant proteins (CD3-gamma, -delta, -epsilon and -zeta). CD3-gamma and CD3-delta chains are highly homologous, especially in the cytoplasmic domain. The similarity observed in their genomic organization and their proximity in the chromosome indicate that both genes arose from duplication of a single gene. Here, we provide several lines of evidence which indicate that in human and murine T cells which expressed both the CD3-gamma and CD3-delta chains on their surface, the TCR/CD3 complex consisted of a mixture of alpha beta gamma epsilon zeta and alpha beta delta epsilon zeta complexes rather than a single alpha beta gamma delta epsilon zeta complex. First, a CD3-gamma specific antibody failed to co-immunoprecipitate CD3-delta and conversely, several CD3-delta specific antibodies did not coprecipitate CD3-gamma. Secondly, analysis of a panel of human and murine T cell lines demonstrated that CD3-gamma and CD3-delta were expressed at highly variable ratios on their surface. This suggested that these chains were not expressed as a single complex. Thirdly, CD3-gamma and CD3-delta competed for binding to CD3-epsilon in transfected COS cells, suggesting that CD3-gamma and CD3-delta formed mutually exclusive complexes. The existence of these two forms of TCR/CD3 complexes could have important implications in the understanding of T cell receptor function and its role in T cell development.     

Developmentally regulated rearrangement and expression of genes encoding the T cell receptor-T3 complex

Human leukemic cells corresponding to the earliest identifiable stages of intrathymic T cell differentiation lack cell surface expression of the T cell receptor(TCR alpha/beta)-T3 complex but transcribe TCR beta mRNA from either germ-line configuration (1/13) or partially (DJ) or fully (VDJ) rearranged (12/13) genes. These cells do not produce TCR alpha mRNA, but do contain T3 delta and T3 epsilon mRNA and accumulate T3 polypeptides, primarily in the perinuclear envelope. Equivalent normal T cells isolated from thymus have a predominantly germ-line configuration of TCR beta but contain intracellular T3 proteins. T3 gene expression is therefore a very early event in T cell differentiation. TCR alpha chain production appears to be the limiting maturation-linked event in the transport, assembly, and cell surface membrane insertion of the TCR alpha/beta-T3 complex.     

CD3.TCR1, a human CD3 epitope expressed on viable gamma/delta lymphocytes exclusively.

T lymphocytes express either the alpha/beta or the gamma/delta receptor (TCR) in a mutually exclusive fashion. Both structures are associated on the cell membrane with the CD3 proteins which are thought to transduce signals resulting from antigen recognition. The CD3 complex is present in both alpha/beta and gamma/delta cells and includes at least five proteins (designated gamma, delta, epsilon, zeta and eta). We have developed here a novel mAb, anti-CD3.TCR1, which immunoprecipitates the CD3 molecules from both alpha/beta and gamma/delta cells lysates following solubilization with Triton X-100. While the SDS-PAGE migration profile of the material recognized by either anti-CD3.TCR1 or anti-OKT3 are superimposable in both cell types, this mAb recognizes viable untreated gamma/delta T lymphocytes exclusively. These findings further support the view that molecular interactions within the TCR/CD3 protein complex are distinct in the two T lymphocyte populations.     

T cell antigen receptor--structure, expression and function

T cell receptor complex is composed of at least 7 different polypeptides and is one of the most sophisticated receptor. There are two types of T cell receptor (TCR); alpha beta and gamma delta, both of which are composed of a heterodimer and associated with invariant CD3 complexes on the cell surface. T cells expressing alpha beta dimer recognize antigen-peptides in the context of self-MHC molecules, whereas the specificity and function of gamma delta T cells are largely unknown. Gene organization of alpha beta and gamma delta indicates the difference of mechanism to generate diversity. Whereas alpha and beta genes have a large number of V genes, those of gamma and delta genes are limited. However, especially for delta gene, the repertoire is largely produced by junctional diversity. There are increasing data showing new TCR heterodimers; such as beta delta heterodimer in human, beta homodimer in mouse and unknown new heterodimer in chicken, which are expressed on the cell surface in the association with CD3 complex. The characterization of these new receptor dimers and the function of cells expressing these receptors have to be determined. Among CD3 complex, zeta and eta chains are most important for signal transduction after antigen-recognition by TCR. eta gene is recently cloned and now found to be produced by an alternative splicing of a common gene with zeta chains gene. Tyrosine++ phosphorylation of zeta chain seems to be one of the earliest events of T cell activation. Since fyn, one of src oncogene family possessing tyrosine++ kinase function, is co-precipitated with TCR-CD3 complex, fyn seems to be involved in early phosphorylation for T cell activation. Positive and negative selection of thymocytes has been shown to occur via TCR using TCR-transgenic mice model. Molecular mechanism of the selection should be determined.