T cells are a critical component of the vertebrate adaptive immune system. T cells mediate immune responses involving recognition of antigen peptides bound to major histocompatibility complex (pMHC) through TCRs. The TCR–CD3 complex is formed through noncovalent association of TCR with a CD3 signaling apparatus consisting of the γ, δ, ε and ζ subunits.

Professor Huang’s team has determined a high-resolution cryo-EM structure of the human TCR–CD3 complex containing eight subunits, which reveals the structural basis for TCR–CD3 complex assembly, providing clues to TCR triggering and a foundation for rational design of immunotherapies that target the complex. This work greatly enhances our understanding of the“triggering”mechanism which allows T cells to recognize and respond to aberrant peptide antigens by elucidating the first structure of the membrane assembly between a clonotypic T cell receptor and its CD3 co-receptor.

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https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-019-1537-0