A critical role for the cytoplasmic tail of pTα in T lymphocyte development

Iannis Aifantis, Christine Borowski, Fotini Gounari, H. Daniel Lacorazza, Janko Nikolich-Zugich, Harald von Boehmer

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Signals that emanate from the pre-T cell receptor (pre-TCR) regulate multiple processes required for the development of the αβ T cell lineage. In contrast to the γδ TCR, the pre-TCR localizes cell-autonomously to membrane rafts, where it appears to signal in a constitutive and ligand-independent manner. We addressed here the role played by structural features specific to the cytoplasmic domain of the pre-TCRα chain (pTα). More specifically, we examined a COOH-terminal proline-rich sequence that might play a role in signal transduction and a juxtamembrane cysteine residue that could be a target for palmitoylation, thus allowing spontaneous raft localization. Expression of pTα mutants in transgenic mice, retrovirally transduced T cell precursors and cell lines showed that the pTα cytoplasmic tail, in particular the proline-rich domain, plays a crucial role in pre-TCR signaling and T cell development. In contrast, the pTα juxtamembrane cysteine appeared to be dispensable for pre-TCR function.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)483-488
Number of pages6
JournalNature immunology
Volume3
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - 2002

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Immunology and Allergy
  • Immunology

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