A class of γδ T cell receptors recognize the underside of the antigen-presenting molecule MR1

J Le Nours, NA Gherardin, SH Ramarathinam, W Awad… - Science, 2019 - science.org
Science, 2019science.org
T cell receptors (TCRs) recognize antigens presented by major histocompatibility complex
(MHC) and MHC class I–like molecules. We describe a diverse population of human γδ T
cells isolated from peripheral blood and tissues that exhibit autoreactivity to the
monomorphic MHC-related protein 1 (MR1). The crystal structure of a γδTCR–MR1–antigen
complex starkly contrasts with all other TCR–MHC and TCR–MHC-I-like complex structures.
Namely, the γδTCR binds underneath the MR1 antigen-binding cleft, where contacts are …
T cell receptors (TCRs) recognize antigens presented by major histocompatibility complex (MHC) and MHC class I–like molecules. We describe a diverse population of human γδ T cells isolated from peripheral blood and tissues that exhibit autoreactivity to the monomorphic MHC-related protein 1 (MR1). The crystal structure of a γδTCR–MR1–antigen complex starkly contrasts with all other TCR–MHC and TCR–MHC-I-like complex structures. Namely, the γδTCR binds underneath the MR1 antigen-binding cleft, where contacts are dominated by the MR1 α3 domain. A similar pattern of reactivity was observed for diverse MR1-restricted γδTCRs from multiple individuals. Accordingly, we simultaneously report MR1 as a ligand for human γδ T cells and redefine the parameters for TCR recognition.
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