IMGT Web resources

 Here you are: IMGT Web resources > IMGT Education > Questions and Answers

QUESTION 5:

What is the structure of an alpha-beta T cell receptor?

ANSWER to question 5:

There are two types of T cell receptors: the alpha-beta T cell receptors, and the gamma-delta T cell receptors which are expressed at the surface of different T cells.
An alpha-beta T cell receptor is made of two glycosylated transmembrane chains, the alpha chain (43-49 kDa) and the beta chain (38-44 kDa).
The variable domain (V-J-REGION) of the T cell receptor alpha chain is encoded by the rearrangement of 2 genes: 1 TRAV and 1 TRAJ. The constant domain (C-REGION) is encoded by the TRAC gene.

Created: 11/06/2001
Last updated: Friday, 22-Sep-2023 18:15:35 CEST
Author: Marie-Paule Lefranc Marie-Paule.Lefranc@igh.cnrs.fr
Editor: Elodie Foulquier