Publication Abstract from PubMed
Superantigens (SAGs) are a class of immunostimulatory proteins of bacterial or viral origin that activate T cells by binding to the V beta domain of the T cell antigen receptor (TCR). The three-dimensional structure of the complex between a TCR beta chain (mouse V beta8.2) and the SAG staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) at 2.4 A resolution reveals why SEB recognizes only certain V beta families, as well as why only certain SAGs bind mouse V beta8.2. Models of the TCR-SEB-peptide/MHC class II complex indicate that V alpha interacts with the MHC beta chain in the TCR-SAG-MHC complex. The extent of the interaction is variable and is largely determined by the geometry of V alpha/V beta domain association. This variability can account for the preferential expression of certain V alpha regions among T cells reactive with SEB.
Three-dimensional structure of the complex between a T cell receptor beta chain and the superantigen staphylococcal enterotoxin B.,Li H, Llera A, Tsuchiya D, Leder L, Ysern X, Schlievert PM, Karjalainen K, Mariuzza RA Immunity. 1998 Dec;9(6):807-16. PMID:9881971[1]
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
