Discovery of T-cell Receptors (video)

National Jewish Health scientists John Kappler, PhD, and Philippa Marrack, PhD, discuss their discovery of the T-cell receptor - the protein found on the surface of T Cells that helps detect specific antigens, or foreign invaders, in the body:



T cell receptor (TCR) is a heterodimer of an α and β chain, each with two Ig-like domains. This combination of the α and β chains and their Ig-like domains are analogous to the immunoglobulin Fab fragment. The TCR complex consists of the TCR, CD3 and two zeta (ξ) chains.



Severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) - 4 groups according to T/B/NK cells (click to enlarge the image).